Indu-Brasil

The Indu-Brasil or Indo-Brazilian is a Brazilian breed of zebuine beef cattle. It was bred in the early twentieth century in the Triângulo Mineiro in the western part of Minas Gerais state, and particularly in the area surrounding Uberaba. It was originally known as the Induberaba. It derives from imported Indian zebuine cattle, principally Gir and Kankrej (which in Brazil are known as Guzerá).[4]: 219  It was formerly an important beef breed, but in the twenty-first century is an endangered breed.[3]: 205  It is characterised by particularly large ears, perhaps the largest seen in any breed of cattle.[3]: 205 

Indu-Brasil
Conservation status
Other names
  • Indubrasil
  • Indo-Brazilian
  • Induberaba
  • Indoanaxa[2]
Country of originBrazil
DistributionMinas Gerais
StandardAssociação Brasileira dos Criadores de Indubrasil
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    900–1200 kg[3]: 205 
  • Female:
    750–900 kg[3]: 205 
Height
  • Male:
    average 161 cm[3]: 205 
  • Female:
    average 143 cm[3]: 205 
Coatwhite or pale grey
Horn statushorned[2]

History

The Indu-Brasil derives from zebuine cattle imported to Brazil from India, principally of Kankrej stock (known in Brazil as Guzerá), Ongole (known in Brazil as Nellore) and Gir stock.[4]: 219 [5]: 29  It was bred in the early twentieth century in the Triângulo Mineiro in the western part of Minas Gerais state, and particularly in the area surrounding Uberaba, which gave rise to its original name, Induberaba; the name was changed to the present one in 1936.[5]: 29  A breed association was started in 1939[3]: 205  and another, the Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Indubrasil, was established in 1962.[6]

It was formerly an important beef breed; in 1991 a breeding stock of 80000 cows was reported to the DAD-IS database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.[3]: 205 [2] In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed:[3]: 205  a total population in Brazil of approximately 900 head was reported to DAD-IS for 2017, for 2020 and for 2021.[2] The breed is reported by fourteen countries, all in Central or South America;[7] the largest population is in Mexico, where in 2022 the breeding stock numbered 4120 head – 2492 cows and 1348 bulls.[8]

It was among the breeds that contributed to the development of the American Brahman breed in the United States.[3]: 205  At the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City it has been selectively bred since the 1970s for small size, leading to the development of the Minivaca, a dwarf breed standing about 100 cm tall.[9]: 105 

Characteristics

The cattle have good heat and parasite resistance and thrive in the tropics. They are white to dark grey in colour with short horns and very large ears. They have the typical Zebu shoulder hump.

Use

From about 1925 to 1945 the Indu-Brasil was the dominant beef breed of Brazil; it remained important in beef production until the 1970s.[3]: 205 

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. Breed data sheet: Indubrasil / Brazil (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2023.
  3. 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.
  4. Robert W. Wilcox (2017). Cattle in the Backlands: Mato Grosso and the evolution of ranching in the Brazilian tropics. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 9781477311141.
  5. Arthur da Silva Mariante, Concepta McManus, José Francisco Mendonça (editors) (2003). Country Report on the State of Animal Genetic Resources: Brazil. Brasília: Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology. ISSN 0102-0110, 99. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 10 January 2017.
  6. Estatuto (in Portuguese). Uberaba: Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Indubrasil. Accessed October 2023.
  7. Transboundary breed: Indubrasil. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2023.
  8. Breed data sheet: Indubrasil / Mexico (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2023.
  9. Valerie Porter (2008). The Field Guide to Cattle. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760331927.
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