Nelore cattle (also called Nellor Cattle) is a very beautiful breed of cattle. They are very different from the Bos taurus species and belong to the Bos indicus or Zebu species.
Nelore cattle are actually descended from Ongole cattle, which were originally introduced to Brazil from India. The breed was named after the Nellore district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.
Currently, Brazil is the largest producer of Nelor cattle. In 1868, the first pair of Ongol cattle arrived in Brazil by ship in Salvador, Bahia. Manoel Ubelhart Lemgruber of the Rio de Janeiro Zoo.
Two other animals arrived here in 1878 from the Hamburg Zoo. And 100 animals were imported from India in the 1960s.
And most of the Nelore cattle available in Brazil today were bred from lines imported from India in the 1960s.
The Indubrasil, or Indo-Brazilian, was a favorite breed of zebu in Brazil during the first decades of the 20th century. But Nelore cattle have been the main and most popular breed of beef cattle in Brazil since the 1960s.
They have become very popular mainly due to their heat tolerance, hardiness and because they feed on poor quality food.
Today, more than 80% of beef cattle in Brazil are purebred or Nelore hybrids. The breed has been exported to many other countries such as Argentina, United States, Mexico, Paraguay, Central America, Venezuela and many other countries.
The Nelore Studbook was founded in 1875. Learn more about the breed below.
Characteristics of Nelore Cattle
Nelore cattle are medium-sized animals. Their most distinctive feature is the presence of a noticeable “hump” behind the neck. But there are many other differences between Nelore and European cattle breeds.
Nelore cattle are generally white in color with black skin, tail and muzzle. They have relatively longer legs than other breeds of cattle, which helps them walk on water while grazing. They are usually horned, but there is also a variety with natural plumage. They have short ears and their ears are probably the shortest of most Bos indicus species.
Nelore bulls have short sheaths, while cows have small udders and short teats. The average live weight of Nelor cows is about 450 kg. And the bulls weigh on average up to 500 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
Nelore cattle are mainly used for meat production in Brazil. They are also a popular meat breed in some other countries. They are also good for copywriting purposes.
Special Notes
Nelore cattle are known for their hardiness, calving ease, heat tolerance and ability to feed on poor quality forage. They can adapt to almost any climatic condition except for very cold conditions. They have a natural resistance to various pests and diseases and are very resistant to high temperatures.
Nelore cows have a long and prolific reproductive life, strong maternal abilities and plenty of milk for their calves. Calves are very alert and lead active lives.
These animals are also known for their ability to turn poor quality food into high quality beef. They can also withstand long periods without water and are very resistant to bloating.
Today, the breed is used to produce very high quality beef in Brazil and many other countries. However, check out the full profile of this breed in the table below.
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| Breed name | Nelore |
| another name | Nellore |
| Purpose of the breed | Mainly meat |
| Special Notes | Strong, hardy, fertile, disease resistant, tall. |
| Breed size | medium |
| Bulls | Up to 500kg |
| cows | About 450kg |
| climatic tolerance | All climates |
| coat color | rather white |
| horned | Yes / Asked |
| milk production | Medium |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | India |
