Santa Gertrudis cattle are the first beef cattle breed developed in the United States. This is a tropical breed of beef, raised in southern Texas on king of the ranch.
According to the Royal Ranch, Santa Gertrudis cattle are derived from a cross between Brahmin bulls and Beef Shorthorn cows. The final composition is approximately five-eighths Shorthorn and three-eighths Brahman.
The Royal Ranch purchased 52 bulls from three-quarters to seven-eighths. bos indicus mate with 2,500 purebred Shorthorn cows on a ranch in 1918.
At that time, the American Brahmin cattle breed as such did not yet exist. They weren’t purebloods either. bos indicus cattle available in the United States.
However, in 1940 Santa Gertrudis cattle were officially recognized by the USDA. The breed was named after the Spanish land grant on which Captain Richard King originally established the royal ranch. Learn more about this breed of cattle below.
Characteristics of Santa Gertrudis Cattle
Santa Gertrudis cattle are large animals, usually with red and sometimes white markings on the underline. They have a short, sleek, smooth coat. In fact, they show a lot of bos indicus characteristics.
The breed can be both horned and banded. They have medium sized ears. The skin of Santa Gertrudis cattle is loose, with folds at the neck and navel. Bulls have a small bump like a zebu. Cows are much smaller than bulls.
The average weight of bulls is 800-1000 kg. And the body weight of mature cows ranges from 600 to 850 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
Santa Gertrudis cattle are primarily used as a beef breed for meat production. They are also very good for commercial production.
Special Notes
Santa Gertrudis cattle are very hardy and heat resistant. They are also known for their resistance to dust mites and bloating. Carcasses of very young cattle develop large eye muscle from meat with little or no fat.
The breed is now available in several other countries around the world and they are known for their ability to adapt to harsh climates. See the complete profile of this breed in the following table.
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| Breed name | Saint Gertrude |
| another name | everything |
| Purpose of the breed | Meat |
| Special Notes | Sturdy, strong, dust mite and bloat resistant |
| Breed size | big |
| Bulls | From 800 to 1000 kg |
| cows | Varies from 600 to 850 kg |
| climatic tolerance | All climates |
| coat color | Usually red, sometimes with white markings |
| horned | Yes / requested |
| milk production | Not really |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | UNITED STATES |
