The Miniature Zebu is a modern American breed of
zebu
The zebu (; ''Bos indicus'' or ''Bos taurus indicus''), sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in the Indian sub-continent. Zebu are characterised by a fatty h ...
ine
miniature cattle
Miniature cattle are found in various parts of the world. Some, such as the Dexter of Ireland and the Vechur of Kerala, India, are traditional breeds; others have been recently created by selective breeding. The Australian Lowline was the unexpec ...
. A
breed association Breed clubs are associations or clubs with activities centered on a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of animal and the goals and needs of the members o ...
was established in 1991.
History
India has numerous traditional breeds of very small
zebuine cattle
The zebu (; ''Bos indicus'' or ''Bos taurus indicus''), sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in the Indian sub-continent. Zebu are characterised by a fatty h ...
, such as the
Vechur breed of southern
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
. These may be collectively known as ''nadudana'', "small cattle".
The Miniature Zebu was established as a breed in the United States with the formation of the International Miniature Zebu Association, a
breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeder ...
, in 1991. At that time, there were small zebuine cattle in twenty-three American zoos, and others were held by some fifty private owners. The parent stock had originally been imported from Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Sweden. By 2016 more than 6200 animals were registered.
Characteristics
The maximum
withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal, typically a quadruped. In many species, it is the tallest point of the body. In horses and dogs, it is the standard place to measure the animal's height. In contrast, cattle a ...
height permitted for registration is .
References
{{Reflist, 45em, refs=
[Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016)]
''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''
(sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN, 9781780647944.
[Heather Smith Thomas (January/February 2010)]
Miniature Zebu cattle
''Countryside & Small Stock Journal'' 94 (1): 68–70. Accessed June 2018. {{subscription required.
[Welcome to IMZA]
International Miniature Zebu Association. Accessed June 2018.
Cattle breeds
Cattle breeds originating in the United States