zebu

Zebu, or Bos indicus, refers to a group of domesticated cattle native to the Indian subcontinent. They are characterized by a pronounced shoulder hump, loose skin, large dewlaps, and generally lighter hair that is well suited to hot climates. Zebu cattle are adapted to tropical environments and are more resistant to several parasites and heat stress than many temperate-bred cattle. They have been spread by humans to Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and various parts of Asia and Oceania, where they are raised for milk, meat, and draft power.

Zebu breeds form one of the two main cattle lineages, Bos indicus, distinct from Bos taurus (European cattle). They are typically smaller-framed than many taurine cattle and often display a hump, droopy ears, and a variety of horn configurations depending on breed. Their physiological adaptations to heat and parasites make them valuable for production in tropical and subtropical regions. They are frequently crossbred with taurine cattle to combine heat tolerance with higher production, yielding well-known hybrids such as the Brahman in the Americas and various indicus-taurine crosses elsewhere.

History and distribution: Zebu cattle were domesticated in the Indian subcontinent thousands of years ago and subsequently disseminated through trade, travel, and colonization. Today they are found across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and parts of Oceania. The Brahman breed, developed in the United States from Indian cattle, is among the most recognizable zebu-derived breeds and is commonly used in crossbreeding programs worldwide.