Whats_Zebu

What's a Zebu

If you have never seen a newborn Miniature Zebu calf, you don't know what you are missing. They are so darn cute, almost fawn-like. They will steal your heart. Miniature Zebu are slow to mature. It seems the smaller the animal, the older they are when they first breed. They are a hardy breed and have a high resistance to disease. Miniature Zebu are a tropical breed and handle the heat very well. In fact, the hotter it is the better they seem to like it. As far as the cold weather, they would much rather stay in the barn. As long as you furnish them with proper housing in the winter months, they will do fine. Nothing definite is known as to the ancestry or original habitat of Zebu cattle. However, Zebu cattle are known to be one of the oldest breeds of cattle, possible dating back as far as 6000 B.C. In Southern India, which is one of the principal cattle-raising districts of all India, there exists cattle known as "Nadudana" or small cattle. A few of these were imported in the 1920's for zoological gardens in the country.

On April 10, 1991, at the Lolli Brothers Auction in Macon, Missouri, 29 owners and persons interested in Nadudana Zebu met and agreed to form the International Miniature Zebu Association, IMZA. This association is a non-profit corporation designed to collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of Miniature Zebu cattle. Also, to publish a breeding registry and to stimulate and regulate any and all other matters such as may pertain to the history, breeding, exhibition, publicity, sale or improvement of this breed.

In the current registry there are three different categories:

Foundation Pure: These animals are considered pure from their founding stock. Their

registration numbers and all their ancestors numbers will begin with a T or Z.

Native Pure: These animals are bred up from Foundation Pure animals on the sire side and

Percentage animals on the dam side. Once these animals reach 15/16 for females and

31/32 for males, they are considered Native Pure. There registration numbers will begin

with a P.

Percentage: These female animals range from 1/2 to 7/8 percentage pure. No new

percentage animal have been accepted since the registry was closed on April 1, 1995.

Percentage animals registration papers will state what percentage they are and will

have a P registration number.

In describing the traits which constitute "standards" for the Miniature Zebu, we lean heavily on the standards which evolved during the development of this breed over the past 75 years here in the United States. Therefore, in general terms our standards are as follows:

Head: Moderately long coffin-shaped skull, orbital arches not prominent, slightly convex in

profile. Forehead prominent.

Horns: Relatively short-horned (12") curving outwards and upwards, although down-swept

is seen.

Ears: Pointed, non-pendulous or even held upright. Usually less than 9".

Eyes: Medium to large, luminous.

Neck: Strong and fairly long.

Hump: Large in bulls, but not always highly developed in cows. Placed just ahead of, or

directly above shoulders. Upright and firm.

Dewlap: Moderately developed, free of fleshiness with few folds.

Sheath: Tight.

Hind Quarters: General shape above the hock joint is round. Moderately wide at the pins.

Udder: Compact, well attached, high with even quarters. Small to medium length teats.

Tail: Long and slender, "whiplike" usually set high at rump, extending above hock.

Legs and Feet: Medium length, well proportioned; strong and somewhat fine boned. Short

fetlocks and hard small hooves with equal halves and small cleft.

Color: Black, red, spotted or steel gray to almost pure white. In mature bulls the neck,

shoulders, and hump may be nearly black.

Hair: Short, dense and sleek.

Size: Measured at withers, behind the hump and not to exceed 42" at three years of age.

Mature cows should be 300 to 500 pounds; mature bulls from 400 to 600 pounds.

Miniature Zebu Cattle are slow to mature, the smaller the animal, the older they are when they first breed. For more information on Miniature Zebu cattle, visit the Members page and visit a breeder near you.