Порода коров Браман, относится к мясному направлению продуктивности, она
была выведена в Индии. Коровы Браманы произошли от индийских Зебу, в частности пород
Гир, Онгул (Неллур), Канкредт и Майсур, а также от них произошла Американская
Браманская порода коров, Ямайская Браманская и
Индо-Бразильская породы коров. Впервые коров породы Браман,
завезли в Америку еще в девятнадцатом веке, а позже уже в двадцатом веке,
она распространились
по многим тропическим и субтропическим регионам мира, включая Австралию
и Филиппины. К восьмидесятым годам двадцатого века, было
зарегистрировано уже около миллиона коров породы Американский Браман.
В США вывезены и используются три основных
вида: Гузерат, Неллор и Гир (Guzerat, Nellore, Gir). В меньшей степени
еще один, KrishnaValley. В Индии скот породы браман считается священным,
поэтому его мясо запрещено к употреблению.
Масть коров породы Браман - от светло-серого до рыжего и почти черного. Чаще всего
встречается скот от светло-серой до просто серой масти. Взрослые быки
обычно темнее коров и у них есть темные пятна на шее, плечах и в нижней
части бедра. Коровы породы Браман имеют горб на шее и верхней части спины,
а также большие висящие уши, которые обычно направлены вверх и иногда
загибаются назад. Для скота этой породы характерны подбородок и
подгрудок с большим количеством кожи. По сравнению с европейскими
породами скота у коров породы Браман более развитые потовые железы. Шерсть
короткая, плотная и блестящая, темная кожа, много лишне-висящей кожи,
развитые потовые железы и способность производить меньше внутреннего
тепла при жаркой погоде – это все делает их выносливыми к высоким
температурам и солнечным лучам.
Живая масса быков породы Браман - 720-1000 кг, коров - 450-630 кг. Телята:
рождаются весом - 28-30 кг, но быстро набирают массу и отлучаются от груди
в том же возрасте, что и другие породы.
Коровы породы Американский Браман, скрещенные с традиционным британским безгорбым скотом, дали начало многим высокопродуктивным
мясным и молочным породам, устойчивым к тропическому климату и типичным
для него насекомым. Важнейшие и наиболее сформировавшиеся из них -
порода коров Санта-гертруда в США и порода коров Драутмастер в Австралии, но широко известны и
другие, по названию которых легко догадаться об их происхождении:
порода коров Брангус (браман + абердин-ангус), порода коров Брахорн (+ шортхорн),
порода коров Брафорд (+
герефорд) и порода коров Шарбрей (+ шароле). В Австралии проводилось
экспериментальное скрещивание Зебу, с породами коров Красный Синдхи и Сахивал с
Индийского субконтинента с Сангой породы африкандер из Южной Африки, а
также с американским браманом и санта-гертрудой из США. Эта тенденция к
созданию новых устойчивых к жаре пород на основе азиатских горбатых зебу
и европейского безгорбого скота - одно из перспективнейших направлений в
мировом мясном и молочном животноводстве.
Скот Санта-гертруда создан
путем скрещивания коров породы Браман с коровами породы Шортхорн. Селекционная работа,
начавшаяся примерно в 1910 году, особенно интенсивно продолжалась после
1920 года, и в 1940 году эта порода была официально зарегистрирована
правительством США как имеющая примерно 3/8 браманской и 5/8
шортхорнской крови (такая пропорция приводит к практическому
исчезновению типичного для зебу горба). Хорошие размеры и качество туши
сочетаются в ней с устойчивостью к жаре и вредным насекомым. Скот породы
Санта-гертруда крупный, сильный, красной масти.
К достоинствам коров породы Браман относятся: непритязательность к кормам,
очень высокий убойный выход мяса, устойчивость к насекомым, легко
переносят жару, хорошо выкармливают потомство, почти не подвержены
саркоме, обладают послушным и спокойным характером, но требуют заботы.
Brahman
Cattle
The Brahman breed originated from Bos indicus cattle originally brought
from India. Through centuries of exposure to inadequate food supplies,
insect pests, parasites, diseases and the weather extremes of tropical
India, the native cattle developed some remarkable adaptations for
survival. These are the "sacred cattle of India," and many of the Hindu
faith will not eat meat from them, will not permit them to be
slaughtered, and will not sell them. These facts, in conjunction with he
quarantine regulations of the United States, have made it difficult to
import cattle from India into this country.
All the Bos indicus cattle are characterized by a large hump over the
top of the shoulder and neck. Spinal processes below the hump are
extended, and there is considerable muscular tissue covering the
processes. The other characteristics of these cattle are their horns,
which usually curve upward and are sometimes tilted to the rear, their
ears, which are generally large and pendulous, and the throatlatch and
dewlap, which have a large amount of excess skin. They also have more
highly developed sweat glands than European cattle (Bos taurus) and so
can perspire more freely. Bos indicus cattle produce an oily secretion
from the sebaceous glands which has a distinctive odor and is reported
to assist in repelling insects.
Origin of the Breed
Some 30 well defined breeds of cattle have been listed in India. Three
principal strains or varieties were brought to the United States and
used in the development of the Brahman breed are the Guzerat, the
Nellore, and Gir. In addition, the Krishna Valley strain was introduced
and used to a lesser extent. The general similarity of the Guzert strain
to the cattle selected and developed in this country would indicate that
cattlemen working with the breed have generally preferred this type.
Breed Development
It is said that during the period from 1910 to 1920, many cattle in the
south-western part of Texas and the coastal country along the Gulf of
Mexico showed considerable evidence of Bos indicus breeding. Naturally,
many of the bulls that were used were the result of crosses with other
breeds. Some breeders attempted to keep the stock pure, but they were in
the minority.
Since there are records of less than 300 imported Brahmans, most of
which were bulls, it must be assumed that other breeds supplied the
foundation animals for the breed. The bulls were used on cows of the
European breeds and on the descendants of these crosses. By the fifth
generation (31/32) the offspring carried not only a preponderance of Bos
indicus breeding but selection pressure had permitted the development of
an animal generally regarded as superior to the original imports for
beef production.
Physical Characteristics
Size. Brahmans are intermediate in size among beef breeds found in the
United States. Bulls will generally weigh from 1600 to 2200 pounds and
cows from 1000 to 1400 pounds in average condition. The calves are small
at birth, weighing 60 to 65 pounds, but grow very rapidly and wean at
weights comparable to other breeds.
Disposition. The disposition of Brahman cattle is often questioned.
Brahmans are intelligent, inquisitive and shy. They are unusually
thrifty, hardy and adaptable to a wide range of feed and climate.
However, these characteristics also suggest careful, kind handling
methods. Brahmans like affection and can become very docile. They
quickly respond to handling they receive, good or bad. Well bred, wisely
selected and properly treated Brahmans are as easily handled as other
breeds.
Colors. Brahmans very in color from very light grey or red to almost
black. A majority of the breed are light to medium grey. Mature bulls
are normally darker than cows and usually have dark areas on the neck,
shoulders and lower thighs.
Heat Tolerance. Studies at the University of Missouri found that Brahman
and European cattle thrive equally well at temperatures down to 8° F.
They found that European cattle begin to suffer adversely as the air
temperature goes above 70° F, showing an increase in body temperature
and a decline in appetite and milk production as 75° F, is passed.
Brahmans, on the other hand, show little effect from temperatures up to
and beyond 105° F. Although heat tolerance is only one factor in
environmental adaptation of cattle, it is considered the most important.
These are some of the other factors that allow Brahmans to adapt to
adverse conditions.
Hair Coat. The short, thick, glossy hair coat of the Brahman reflects
much of the sun's rays, adding to its ability to graze in the glaring
midday sun without suffering.
Skin Pigmentation. The black pigmented skin of Brahmans keeps out the
intense rays of the sun, which in excessive amounts will damage deeper
tissue layers.
Loose Skin. An abundance of loose skin on the Brahman is thought to
contribute to its ability to withstand warm weather by increasing the
body surface area exposed to cooling.
Sweating Ability. Brahmans have sweat glands and the ability to sweat
freely through the pores of the skin, which contributes materially to
their heat tolerance.
Internal Body Heat. One factor contributing to the great heat tolerance
of Brahmans, discovered in the Missouri studies, is that they produce
less internal body heat in warm weather than do cattle of European
breeds. Waste heat is produced from feed at the expense of growth and
milk production.
Brahman cattle have been found to fill a unique place in American cattle
production. The Brahman and cattle carrying percentages of Brahman
breeding have been found extremely useful in the southern coastal area
of the United States, where they have demonstrated their ability to
withstand hot and humid weather and to resist insects. In more recent
years Brahman cattle have spread considerably from their initial
locations and are now found widely through the United States. They are
also good mothers and produce a very satisfactory milk flow under
conditions that are adverse for best performance of the European breeds.
Cancer eye is almost unknown in the breed. They have established a
considerable reputation for a high dressing percentage, and their
carcasses have a very good "cutout" value with minimum of outside fat.
Probably the greatest tribute to the Brahman breed and its breeders is
the rapid growth of the breed outside of the United States. They have
constituted a large proportion of our exports of breeding cattle outside
continental North America.
