Droughtmaster
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The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of beef cattle. It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. It was the first Australian taurindicine hybrid breed;[1]Template:R/superscript it is approximately 50% Bos indicus and 50% Bos taurus.[2]Template:R/superscript
History
The Droughtmaster was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. Other British breeds, mainly Hereford, were later used. Much of the development was done by one breeder, R.L. Atkinson.[3]Template:R/superscript
In 1956 breeders decided to focus on red cattle only; the Droughtmaster name proposed by Atkinson was adopted. A breed society, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a herd-book was started.[4]Template:R/superscript[3]Template:R/superscript
From 1969, five Droughtmaster bulls were used for cross-breeding with the local Bhagnari in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, leading to the creation of the Nari Droughtmaster.[4]Template:R/superscript It has also been exported to other countries, among them New Guinea, Nigeria, Samoa and Taiwan.[1]Template:R/superscript[2]Template:R/superscript
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 udders and photosensitisation. The cattle may be either horned or polled; the majority are polled 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.[5]Template:R/superscript
References
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- ↑ a b Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ a b Cattle breeds: Droughtmaster. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. Archived 19 March 2016.
- ↑ a b [s.n.] (24 November 2012). Droughties: bred for the north. North Queensland Register. Archived 11 March 2021.
- ↑ a b Marleen Felius (1995). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Breed history. Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society. Archived 11 March 2021.
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Further reading
- Stephens, M (et al.), Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Export Corporation, 2000 (4th ed), Template:ISBN