Information about Zebu

Zebu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Bos Species: B. primigenius
Trinomial name
Bos primigenius indicus Linnaeus, 1758

Zebus (Bos primigenius indicus), sometimes known as 'humped cattle' or 'indicus' cattle, are better-adapted to tropical environments than the other domestic cattle, the Bos primigenius taurus or 'taurine' types. The scientific name of zebu cattle was originally Bos indicus, but this name is now deemed invalid by ITIS, who classify the zebu under Bos primigenius along with all other domestic cattle and their extinct aurochs ancestors. However, domestic cattle are sometimes regarded as a separate species to the aurochs, in which case Zebu are known as Bos taurus indicus.

Zebu cattle are thought to be derived from the Asian subspecies of aurochs Bos primigenius namadicus^[1]. Another wild cattle species, the gaur (Bos gaurus) may also have contributed to their development.

There are some 75 known breeds of zebu, split about evenly between African breeds and South Asian ones. The major Zebu cattle breeds of the world include Kanganad, Kangeyam bull, Gir, Guzerat, Kankrej, Indo-Brazilian, Brahman, Nelore, Ongole, Sahiwal, Afrikaner, Red Sindhi, Butana, Kenana, Boran, Baggara, Red Fulani, Tharparker, Ankole-Watusi, Chinese Southern Yellow and Philippine Native.

Zebu have humps on the shoulders, large dewlaps and droopy ears.^[2] They have more sweat glands than taurine cattle, and have pest resistances not seen in European cattle.

Because they were better adapted to hot environments, zebus were imported to Africa for hundreds of years and interbred with taurine cattle there. Genetic analysis of African cattle has found higher concentrations of zebu genes all along the east coast of Africa, and especially pure cattle on the island of Madagascar, implying that the method of dispersal was cattle transported by ship. Partial resistance to rinderpest led to another increase in the frequency of zebus in Africa.

Zebu were imported into Brazil in the early twentieth century and crossbred to Charolais cattle, a European taurine breed. The resulting breed, which consists of 5/8 Charolais and 3/8 Zebu, is called the Chanchim. It has a better meat quality than the zebu as well as better heat resistance than European cattle. The zebu breeds used were primarily Indo-Brazilian with some Nelore and Guzerat.



Many breeds are complex mixtures of the zebu and various taurine types, and some also have yak, gaur or banteng genetics. While zebu are the common cattle in much of Asia, the cattle of Japan, Korea and Mongolia are taurine (although possibly domesticated separately from the other taurine cattle originating from Europe and Africa). Other species of cattle domesticated in parts of Asia include yak, gaur, banteng and water buffalo.

Bulls from the Brahman breed of zebu are often used in for bullriding in rodeo.
In 1999, researchers at Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu bull. [1]

Popular culture

Zebu were immortalized in the Silly Songs with Larry tune "The Song Of The Cebú". At one point in the song, Larry says "...I think that's the bull's cousin. He's a cebú!" This is fairly accurate, as European cattle and zebu are members of the same species.

The Zebu is mentioned in a 1991 episode of The Simpsons, "Blood Feud," when Lisa teaches Maggie about more obscure animals, wanting to give Maggie "all the advantages that [she] didn't have." Lisa describes it as "an ox, only it has a hump and a dewlap."

ZEBU! is the name of a rock band based out of Amherst, Massachusetts.

In August 2007, a study by ITV television show Undercover Mothers found that a third of Hungry Horse and Wetherspoon pubs in the UK served steaks which were composed partly of Zebu meat, which is "notorious for its tough and poor eating quality."^[3][4]

See also

• Sacred cows of India
• Domestic Asian Water Buffalo

References