THE Brahman breed is an indigenous bos indicus cattle from India.
As with indigenous African cattle, the breed developed over centuries of exposure to insect pests, parasites, diseases, inadequate food supplies, the weather extremes of tropical India and remarkable adaptations for survival.
As with all bos indicus cattle, the Brahman are characterised by their large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck.
They have short, thick, glossy coat that helps to reflect much of the sun’s rays during the day.
Its black pigmented skin enables the Brahman to graze in the hot midday sun without suffering distress.
Brahman cattle have an abundance of loose skin which is believed to contribute to the breed’s ability to withstand warm weather by increasing the body surface area exposed to cooling.
Although heat tolerance is only one factor in environmental adaptation of cattle, it is considered the most important.
Studies at the University of Missouri found that Brahman and European cattle thrive equally well at temperatures down to -13 degrees Celcius.
They found that European cattle begin to suffer adversely as the air temperature goes above 21 degrees Celsius, showing an increase in body temperature and a decline in appetite and milk production as 24 degrees Celsius is passed.
Brahmans, on the other hand, show little effect from temperatures up to and beyond 40,5 degrees Celsius.
Another factor contributing to the great heat tolerance of Brahmans, discovered in the Missouri studies, is that they produce less internal body heat in warm weather than do cattle of European breeds.
Waste heat is produced from feed at the expense of growth and milk production.
An additional feature of this breed is the increased number of sweat glands and the ability to sweat freely.
Bos indicus cattle also produce an oily secretion from the sebaceous glands which has a distinctive odour and is reported to assist in repelling insects.
Brahmans are easily identified by their pendulous ears and horns which curve upwards and sometimes tilt to the rear.
The animals vary in colour from very light grey or red brown to almost black, but the majority are light to medium grey. Mature bulls are normally darker than the cows and usually have dark areas on the neck, shoulders and lower thighs.
The Brahman breed is of medium size with Braham bulls generally weighing from 726kg to over 900kg and cows weighing from 454kg to 635kg in average conditions.
The calves are small at birth, weighing 27kg to 29,5kg, but grow very rapidly and wean at weights comparable to other breeds.
These native Indian cattle /bovine (also known as Brahma), have become very popular with cattle producers in the US and in east, central and southern Africa where ranchers have found them a very useful and advantageous breed.
Three main strains of Indian cattle, namely the guzerat, the gir and the nelore, were imported into the US to use in the development of the Brahman breed.
According to records, less than 300 Brahmans (most of which were bulls), were imported, indicating that other breeds supplied the foundation animals for the breed.
To a lesser extent, the Krishna Valley strain was also introduced and used.
The general similarity of the guzerat strain to the cattle selected and developed in the US is an indication of cattlemen’s general preference for this breed.
During the period from 1910 to 1920, many cattle in the south-western part of Texas and the coastal country along the Gulf of Mexico showed considerable evidence of bos indicus breeding.
While a minority of the breeders have attempted to keep the stock pure, many of the bulls that were used were the result of crosses with other breeds.
The bulls were used on cows of the European breeds and on the descendants of these crosses.
By the fifth generation (1931/32) the offspring carried not only a preponderance of bos indicus breeding, but selection pressure had permitted the development of an animal generally regarded as superior to the original imports for beef production.
Today, its use in cross-breeding has become a great tool for the production of steers for various purposes.
Its meat is highly appreciated on the five continents.
In Zimbabwe, the Brahman was first imported in 1955.
Since then, dedicated stud breeders have strived to use the best genetics available to them, through importation of live animals, embryos and semen from the US, Australia and South Africa.
During the subsequent 60 years, the Brahman’s uniqueness influenced many breeders in the cattle industry, driven by a progressive breeding corps to make this unique breed a winning breed of Zimbabwean cattle in the cattle industry.
Breeders have described Brahmans as intelligent, inquisitive and shy.
They are unusually thrifty, hardy and adaptable to a wide range of feed and climate.
Brahmans like affection and can become very docile.
They respond readily to handling they receive — whether good or bad.
The characteristics of these ‘sacred Indian cattle’, however, also suggest careful, kind handling methods.
They are also good mothers and produce a very satisfactory flow of milk, even under conditions that are adverse for best performance of the European breeds.
Eye cancer is almost unknown in the breed.
They have established a considerable reputation for a high dressing percentage and their carcasses have a very good ‘cut-out’ value with minimum of outside fat.
Well-bred, wisely selected and correctly treated/handled, the Brahmans are as trouble free to handle as other local breeds.
The Brahman breed has become so essential in the tropics that many British and continental breeds have been ‘adapted’ to such zones by incorporating a relevant percentage of Brahman blood.
Synthetic breeds have resulted from such crossings as: brangus – braford – simbrah – chabray – beefmaster; just a few examples of the Brahman’s popularity.
The Brahman is very popular.
It has been exported from the US to many beef-cattle-producing countries worldwide, including Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and Australia.
With statistics such as quick growth, early finish, abundant muscle, ideal formation, sexual precocity, regular calving and tameness, the Zimbabwean Brahman breeders are justifiably proud of the Brahman breed in Zimbabwe.
Entering a new era of technology, the Brahman Breeders of Zimbabwe today are delighted to showcase what they have available for the benefit of the Zimbabwe beef industry and the Brahman breed world-wide.
Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a writer, lecturer, musician, art critic, practising artist and corporate image consultant. He is also a specialist art consultant, post-colonial scholar, Zimbabwean socio-economic analyst and researcher.
For views and comments, email: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com