2LearnBos indicus
Zebu
Zebu are humped cattle from South Asia, well adapted to heat, humidity, ticks and sparse forage. They are kept across the tropics for milk, meat and draught work. They are often treated as a subspecies of cattle and cross freely with European breeds.
Keeping
How it is kept
Kept for
- Meat
- Dairy
- Draught work
- Mature weight
- 300–800 kg
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years
- Gestation
- 285 days
- Temperament
- Hardy and alert; can be more reactive to handling than European cattle
- Forage
- Cope with coarser forage and heat better than European cattle, but still need good grazing or hay, clean water and minerals.
- Housing
- Shade and water are essential in hot climates, along with strong fencing. They tolerate cold, wet weather less well than European cattle.
- Good to know
- Zebu carry a hump and loose skin and sweat more freely than European cattle, which helps them in the heat. Many tropical breeds are zebu crosses. Calm, consistent handling pays off with animals that can be flighty.
Breeds
Zebu breeds
Loading breeds
Share
Know a breed we’re missing?
Local and family strains are exactly what no registry records. Tell us its name and what kind of animal it is — a moderator adds the rest before it joins the library.