The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of

beef cattle Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production (as distinguished from dairy cattle, used for milk production). The meat of mature or almost mature cattle is mostly known as beef. In beef production there are three main stages: cow-calf opera ...

. It was developed from about 1915 in North

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

by crossing

zebu The zebu (; ''Bos indicus'' or ''Bos taurus indicus''), sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in the Indian sub-continent. Zebu are characterised by a fatty h ...

ine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the

Beef Shorthorn The Beef Shorthorn breed of cattle was developed from the Shorthorn breed in England and Scotland around 1820.Friend, John B., Cattle of the World, Blandford Press, Dorset, 1978, The Shorthorn was originally developed as a dual-purpose breed, ...

. It was the first Australian taurindicine hybrid breed; it is approximately 50% '' Bos indicus'' and 50% '' Bos taurus''.

History

The Droughtmaster was developed from about 1915 in North

by crossing

ine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the

. Other British breeds, mainly Hereford, were later used. Much of the development was done by one breeder, R.L. Atkinson. In 1956 breeders decided to focus on red cattle only; the Droughtmaster name proposed by Atkinson was adopted. A

breed society Breed clubs are associations or clubs with activities centered on a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of animal and the goals and needs of the members of ...

, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a

herd-book A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders ...

was started. From 1969, five Droughtmaster bulls were used for cross-breeding with the local

Bhagnari Bhagnari is a Hindu Baloch community living in India. They trace their origin to Southern Balochistan. They migrated to India after Partition. History The Bhagnaris were inhabitants of the city of Bhag in the plains of southern Balochistan. T ...

in the Baluchistan

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

of Pakistan, leading to the creation of the Nari Droughtmaster. It has also been exported to other countries, among them

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

, Nigeria,

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...

and Taiwan.

Characteristics

Droughtmasters have good walking and foraging abilities, coupled with lower nutritional requirements to give them the ability to retain condition and keep breeding, irrespective of the prevailing conditions. Their short coat is generally red in colour, although variations from golden honey to dark red can occur. The red pigmentation in Droughtmasters helps protect the cattle from cancer eye, sunburnt

udder An udder is an organ formed of two or four mammary glands on the females of dairy animals and ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep. An udder is equivalent to the breast in primates and elephantine pachyderms. The udder is a single mass han ...

s and photosensitisation. The cattle may be either horned or polled; the majority are

poll Poll, polled, or polling may refer to: Figurative head counts * Poll, a formal election ** Election verification exit poll, a survey taken to verify election counts ** Polling, voting to make decisions or determine opinions ** Polling places o ...

ed and exhibit only a moderate hump. They have an extended dewlap.

Use

It is a beef breed, and is reared particularly in areas with a high incidence of drought, heat, tick-borne disease and sun damage.

History

Characteristics

Use

References

Further reading