The Brahman is the first cattle breed to have been developed in the United States, and is now part of beef production of South Africa.
Production in South Africa
Namibian farmer, Jürgen Cranz is seen as the “father” of the Southern African Brahman, as he was the first to import the cattle in 1954. According to the Brahman Breeders Society of South Africa, Jürgen went to the United States on his honeymoon with his wife Vera. While there, they bought seven Brahman bulls and ten calves from JD Hudgins and three bulls from Vernon Frost.
The couple travelled with the cattle on a ship from New Orleans to Cape Town, where the animals created havoc after breaking loose in Cape Town harbour. Everybody tried desperately to recapture the bewildered animals, until a policeman, who grew up on a farm, came to their aid. After quarantine, the cattle were transported by truck to Namibia, with Jürgen on lucerne bales between the animals.
James Gregory was the first to bring the Brahman to South Africa, buying his first bull from Jürgen. The Brahman Cattle Breeders Society was established in 1957 in Kroonstad, by which time 260 Brahmans had already been imported to South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Attributes
The Brahman is a medium sized beef breed, with bulls weighing between 700 to 1000 kg and cows weighing between 450 kg to 650 kg. Calves are generally small, with a birth weight averaging between 25 to 35 kg, but grow rapidly and wean at weights comparable to other breeds.
Brahman cattle vary in colour from very light grey or red to almost black. Their short glossy hair and pigmented skin help to reflect sunlight, which allows the animals to adapt in very hot and humid conditions. They also have more sweat glands than most of the European breeds, and lots of loose skin, which increases their body surface area and helps with temperature regulation.
They are also extremely hardy, with their short hair making it difficult for parasites to attach to it and the cattle secreting an oily substance that repels insects.
The cows can have long productive lives, lasting up to twenty years, and have excellent maternal traits, making them sought after in crossbreeding programmes. The South African Brahman Breeders Society describes the Brahman as “an intelligent animal that adapts well to routine and develops a mild temperament when treated gently.”
Production Regions
Brahman is one of the most popular breeds in South Africa, Namibia and, Zimbabwe. Brahman cattle thrive under extensive production conditions, so is produced all over South Africa. Live animals, embryos and semen are exported from South Africa to other African countries, such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
Use
While the Brahman can be used as a pure breed, it has been hailed by the Breeders’ Society as the “king of crossbreeding”, because of the excellent hybrid vigour it brings, along with hardiness, good maternal traits and low birth weight.
This is reflected in the fact that almost half the commercial breeders in South Africa use their purebred Brahman animals on other breeds. The Simbra is one great example of a breed that developed thanks to the strategic cross of Simmentalers with Brahmans.
Meat Quality
Although unfairly labelled as producing tough meat, breed evaluations over the past few years have found that the Brahman has the genetic potential to produce good quality, tender meat.
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