Zebu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Zebu (disambiguation).

Zebu
Bos taurus indicus.jpg
Domesticated
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bos
Species:
B. taurus
Subspecies:
B. t. indicus
Trinomial name
Bos taurus indicus
Synonyms
  • Bos indicus

The zebu (

riding animals, dairy cattle, and beef cattle, as well as for byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure. Some small breeds such as the miniature zebu are also kept as pets. In 1999, researchers at Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu.[3]

In some regions, such as parts of India, zebu are among the cattle that have significant

religious meaning
.

Taxonomy and name

The

scientific name Bos indicus was introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 for humped cattle in China.[1] The zebu was classified as a distinct species by Juliet Clutton-Brock in 1999,[4][5] but as a subspecies of the domestic cattle, Bos taurus indicus, by Peter Grubb in 2005.[6]
In 2011, Colin Groves and Peter Grubb classified it as a distinct species again.[7] The American Society of Mammalogists also considers it to be a species.[8]

Origin

A Pillar of Ashoka
, dating to the 3rd century BCE, depicting a zebu
Indo-Scythian king Azes II
, late first century BC

Zebu cattle are thought to be derived from the

Indus Valley civilisation from its range in the Indus River basin and other parts of the South Asian region possibly due to interbreeding with domestic zebu and resultant fragmentation of wild populations due to loss of habitat.[10] Bos primigenius namadicus was likely extinct long before 1300 AD and no remains younger than 1800 BC were ever found.[11][12][13]

Believed to be first bred in northwestern South Asia, between 7000 and 6000 BCE, indicine cattle is understood to have been dispersed throughout northwestern South Asia by 4000 BCE, and spread across much of South Asia by 2000 BCE.[14]

Archaeological evidence including depictions on pottery and rocks suggests that it was present in Egypt around 2000 BC and thought to be imported from the Near East or south. It is thought to have first appeared in sub-Saharan Africa after 700 AD and was introduced to the Horn of Africa around 1000.[15]

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the zebu Y chromosome haplotype groups are found in three different lineages: Y3A, the most predominant and cosmopolitan lineage; Y3B, only observed in West Africa; and Y3C, predominant in south and northeast India.[16]

Breeds and hybrids

Hariana breed of Zebu cattle in north India

Some 75 breeds of zebu are known, split about evenly between African breeds and Indian ones. The major zebu cattle breeds of the world include

Brahman, Sibi Bhagnari, White Nukra, Acchai,[17] Cholistani
,
Hariana of Haryana and eastern Punjab[18] or the Rath of Alwar district in eastern Rajasthan.[19]

Zebu, which can tolerate extreme heat,[20] were imported into Brazil in the early 20th century. Their importation marked a change in cattle ranching in Brazil, where feral cattle had grazed freely on extensive pasturage, and bred without animal husbandry. Zebu were considered "ecological" since they could graze on natural grasses and their meat was lean and without chemical residues.[21]

From the 1960s onwards,

Ongole Cattle
which is originated from Ongle region of Andhra Pradesh.

The African

Red Fulani cattle, Ankole-Watusi, Boran cattle
and many other breeds of central and southern Africa. Sanga cattle can be distinguished from pure zebu by their having smaller humps located farther forward on the animals.

Zebu market in Madagascar

Zebu were imported to Africa over many hundreds of years, and interbred with taurine cattle there. Genetic analysis of African cattle has found higher concentrations of zebu genes all along the east coast of Africa, with especially pure cattle on the island of Madagascar, either implying that the method of dispersal was cattle transported by ship or alternatively, the zebu may have reached East Africa via the coastal route (Pakistan, Iran, Southern Arabian coast) much earlier and crossed over to Madagascar. Geneticists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia claim that cattle were domesticated in Africa independent of domestication in the Near East. They conclude that the southern African cattle populations derive originally from the eastern seaboard rather than from a southbound migration of the western cattle.[22] These results do not tell us whether domestication occurred first in Africa or the Near East.[23]

Partial resistance to rinderpest led to another increase in the frequency of zebu in Africa.

In the early 20th century in Brazil, Zebu were crossbred with Charolais cattle, a European taurine breed. The resulting breed, 63% Charolais and 37% zebu, is called the Canchim. It has a better meat quality than the zebu and better heat resistance than European cattle. The zebu breeds used were primarily Indo-Brazilian with some Nelore and Guzerat. Another Charolais cross-breed with Brahmans is called Australian Charbray and is recognised as a breed in some countries. Zebu are very common in much of Asia, including China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and almost all countries in Southeast Asia. In Asia, taurine cattle are only found in the northern regions such as Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, possibly domesticated separately from the other taurine cattle originating from Europe and Africa).[24]

Characteristics

Female zebu in Sri Lanka

Zebu have humps on the shoulders, large dewlaps, and droopy ears.[25] Compared to taurine cattle, zebus are well adapted to the hot, dry environment of the tropics. Adaptations include resistance to drought and tolerance of intense heat and sunlight.[26]

As expected for a non-African breed, the zebu does not appear to have any

tsetse-infested areas.[27]

Zebu is phenotypically recognized by their hump on the backside of their body, their excess skin, and their large ears. Furthermore, another important characteristic of the Zebu is that they are able to defend against parasites and diseases quite well considering the harsh environment they reside in. [29]

Reproduction

Zebu are generally mature enough to give birth when they are 29 months old. This is based on the development of their bodies to withstand the strain of carrying and lactation. Early reproduction can place too much stress on the body and possibly shorten lifespans. Carrying time of the calf averages at 285 days, but varies depending on the age and nutrition of the mother. The sex of the calf may also affect the carrying time, as male calves are carried for a longer period than females. Location, breed, body weight, and season affect the overall health of the animal and in return may also affect the carrying period.[26]

Behavior

Studies on the natural weaning of zebu cattle have shown that the cow weans her calves over a 2-week period, but after that, she continues to show strong affiliatory behavior with her offspring and preferentially chooses them for grooming and as grazing partners for at least 4–5 years.[30]

Uses

Draft zebu pulling a cart in Mumbai
, India

Zebu are used as

riding animals, dairy cattle, as well as for byproducts such as hides, dung for fuel and manure, and horn for knife handles and the like. Zebu, mostly miniature zebu, are kept as pets.[31] In India, the number of draft cattle in 1998 was estimated at 65.7 million head.[32]
Zebu cows commonly have low production of milk. They do not produce milk until maturation later in their lives and do not produce much. When zebus are crossed with taurine cattle, milk production generally increases.[26]

Jallikattu in India is a bull taming sport radically different from European bullfighting, humans are unarmed and bulls are not killed.

Hindu tradition

Further information:
Nandi
.

Milk and milk products were used in Vedic rituals.

gomutra), or the combination of these five (panchagavya)—began to assume an increasingly important role in ritual purification and expiation.[33]
: 130–131 

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Linnaeus, C. (1758). "Bos indicus". Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (Tenth reformed ed.). Holmiae: Laurentii Salvii. p. 71.
  2. PMID 19770222
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  3. ^ "Cloning gives second chance for bull". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1999-09-03. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  4. OCLC 39786571
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  5. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2003.10.006
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  8. ^ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
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  10. ISBN 978-81-7824-140-1
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  11. S2CID 234265221
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  12. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2008.rlts.t136721a4332142.en. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  13. ^ Chen et al., 2010: "Zebu cattle are an exclusive legacy of the South Asia Neolithic." Molecular biology and evolution, 27(1), 1-6. https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/27/1/1/1127118 (in Supplementary Data)
  14. PMID 30575786
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  15. S2CID 143063029
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  16. PMID 30575786
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  17. ^ "Pak Dairy Info - Achi Breed".
  18. ISBN 0-8160-2640-8
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  19. ISBN 0-8160-2640-8
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  20. ^ "Food Ark - Cattle Breeds - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine". Ngm.nationalgeographic.com. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  21. ISBN 9781900039574
    .
  22. ^ Hanotte, O et al (2002) REPORT African Pastoralism: Genetic Imprints of Origins and Migrations Science 12 Apr 2002 Vol. 296 Issue 5566 pp 336-339
  23. ^ Stokstad, E (2002) Archaeology: Early cowboys herded cattle in Africa Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 04/2002, Volume 296 Issue 5566
  24. OCLC 749423644
    .
  25. ^ "Definition: Zebu". Online Medical Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  26. ^
    ISBN 9789290530992
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  27. ^
    PMID 9215909
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  28. PMID 27846793
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  29. ^ Utsunomiya, Y.T., Milanesi, M., Fortes, M.R.S., Porto-Neto, L.R., Utsunomiya, A.T.H., Silva, M.V.G.B., Garcia, J.F. and Ajmone-Marsan, P. (2019), Genomic clues of the evolutionary history of Bos indicus cattle. Anim Genet, 50: 557-568.
  30. doi:10.1163/156853981X00194
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  31. ^ "One of the Oldest Cattle Breeds". American Miniature Zebu Association. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  32. ^ Phaniraja, K.L. & Panchasara, H.H. (2009). "Indian draught animals power". Veterinary World. 2 (10): 404–407.
  33. ^
    ISBN 978-1-85984-676-6
    .
  34. ^ "Mahabharata, Book 13-Anusasana Parva, Section LXXVI". Sacred-texts.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.

External links

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