Dwarf Zebu

The Dwarf Zebu is a small framed cattle with a hump. The head looks elongated due to the narrow forehead. The limbs are relatively long and slender, the hind legs often have a deducted pelvis (abgezogenes Becken) and a deep tail head. The horns of the younger animals usually lead straight up. In older animals, they are usually longer and bent forward. Dwarf Zebus can be brown, black and white but also spotted or speckled. Often the animals have a dorsal stripe, markings on the head like a blaze or a star but these are rarely allowed.

Christian Moser

Direction of use

Dwarf Zebus are undemanding, able to tolerate hot climates and most tropical diseases. They are very suitable for extensive farming and as suckler cows.

Statistics & Distribution

Austria: 1,200 animals
Breed proportion in Austria: 0.06%

This breed is common in Sri Lanka, Caucasus, East Africa, Thailand and other countries. In Germany, animals of this breed can be found in North-Württemberg. In Austria there are about 1,000 animals of this breed.

Figures

Ø Beef performance:

	Daily weight gain (g)
	200 days	365 days
M	455.0	374.1
F	383.9	335.1

Control farms (Herds): 8

Height (cm, Ø): 105

Weight (kg, Ø): 250

Animals in control farms: 383

Registered cows: 104

Origin: Sri Lanka, Asia

History

Based on bone findings, Dwarf Zebus cattle were probably already bred after the domestication of cattle in the Middle East. Later, the distribution area extended from China to West Africa.

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25.04.2014