1.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPES AND

BREEDS OF CATTLE IN THE
TROPICS

Marvin Koger

Abstract. The origin and general characteristics of the principal types of cattle current-
ly inhabiting the various tropical areas of the world are considered. The major groups
included were the humped Zebu (Bos indicus), non-humped European (Bos taurus),
intermediate crosses of these two types, and the close relatives of cattle, the Banteng
and Water ButTalo.
The Zebu and European types of cattle both are thought to have been domesticated
in western Asia. The Zebu spread across southern Asia, immigrating later to the
African continent where they migrated slowly southward. Beginning about the middle
of the 19th century, Zebu cattle principally from India were transported to the
Americas, Australia and various tropical islands.
The European types spread over central Asia and Europe and also migrated to
Africa where they mixed with the Zebu types. European cattle from the Iberian
peninsula were introduced by the Spaniards into the Caribbean Islands, and onto the
American continents in the early 1500s. They spread over all of South America,
Central America and the western part of the United States. These cattle later became
known as the Criollo cattle of South and Central America. They merged with Euro-
pean cattle introduced onto the North American Continent by the English colonists to
give rise to the Texas Longhorn.
In the latter half of the 19th century, Criollo cattle were topcrossed with Zebu bulls.
At present, the majority of the cattle of the tropics are of Zebu or Zebu-European
breeding. For the most part, they are of poor to fair productivity for either milk or
meat. These cattle are used widely also for work and as prestige or ceremonial
animals. Water Buffalo are used for work, meat and milk in many areas. Banteng
cattle are utilized for meat in southeastern Asia and Indonesia.

The art and science of animal husbandry is that of man striving to optimize
to his advantage the interaction between his animals and the environment in
which they are maintained. This relationship is governed by the genetic
attributes of the animals involved and the quality of the environment includ-
ing nutrition, disease, climatic influences and management. Since cattle were
first domesticated 5000 to possibly 10 000 years ago, man has influenced both
the genotypes of his cattle and the environments under which they have
existed. These influences have been exerted both intentionally through

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M. Ristic et al. (eds.), Diseases of Cattle in the Tropics
© Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague 1981
selection of breeding stock and management, and incidentally through usage
of animals and the impact of man on the environment.
The importance of genetic adaptation of organisms to their environment
was a basic concept embodied in the tenets of Charles Darwin relative to
evolving populations. Survival of the fittest leads to genotypes that differ in
their adaptation to varying ecological and climatic environments. Environ-
mental differences with respect to diseases, parasites and insects are no
exception. This should not be interpreted to imply that genetic resistance .to
disease is absolute and should be pursued as the principal means of disease
control. The point is that different genetic stocks vary in their response to
various diseases, pests and other components of the environment. These
differences should be recognized and utilized to the extent that it is practi-
cal.
Information on the characteristics of animals is of importance in designing
effective health and production programs for cattle in the tropical and subtro-
pical areas of the world. The objective of this presentation is to give a brief
overview of the distinctive features of some of the more important groups of
cattle presently found in these areas. For additional information on specific
breeds the reader is referred to more extensive works included among the
references cited.

Origin of modern types and breeds

The origin, present distribution and examples of domesticated groups of

cattle, including water buffalo, are shown in Table 1. Included are six groups
representing four genera of the Bovidae family. Except for the Yak (Poepha-
gus), all of these groups are presently found in the tropics and sub-tropics.
The most important groups in terms of numbers, utility and economic signif-
icance are included in the Bas indicus (humped cattle) and Bas taurus (hump-
less) groups. The former are frequently referred to as Zebu and the latter as
European cattle.
The progenitors of modern-day Bas indicus and Bas taurus groups were
domesticated principally in western Asia over a period of time extending
possibly from 8000 to 3000 Be. The Bas indicus types spread eastward and
southward into Asia and southwest into Africa. The Bas taurus types migrated
south and west into Africa and spread over Europe and into the temperate
regions of Asia. Later both types were transported to other parts of the
world.