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Saturday, July 28, 2018

Saturday Critters

Information below courtesy of the King Ranch website. 

"As a continuation of its leadership in ranching and cattle operations, King Ranch developed the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle.

In the early twentieth century, under the leadership of Robert Kleberg Jr. and Dick Kleberg, we were able to develop the Santa Gertrudis breed.

This breed is recognized worldwide as being able to function productively in hot, humid and unfavorable environments. In order to accomplish this goal, King Ranch breeding experts selectively crossed Indian Brahman cattle with British Shorthorns to develop an animal which is recognized as being 5/8ths Shorthorn and 3/8ths Brahman. In 1920, many years of experimentation culminated with the birth of Monkey, a deep red bull calf. Monkey became the foundation sire for not just a superior line of cattle, but for an entirely new breed. In 1940, the Santa Gertrudis breed was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the first beef breed developed in the United States; it was also the first breed developed anywhere in the world in more than a century.

As a result of this early practice of linebreeding, Santa Gertrudis are especially adapted to crossbreeding. When ranchers and breeders use Santa Gertrudis cattle in crossbreeding programs, the resulting crosses yield high levels of hybrid vigor. Cattlemen who have used Santa Gertrudis cross females generally consider them exceptional animals.


Today, the Santa Gertrudis thrives in harsh ranching climates all over the world and is the most prevalent breed of cattle in Australia. The development of the Santa Gertrudis breed is a testament to the vision and persistence that have characterized King Ranch’s operations from the very beginning." 

Below is a Santa Gertrudis cow. She was recently purchased by friends of ours. She has a gentle personality except when their pup decides to get close. She chases the pup. Wish I would have taken video of their interaction. Pup was teasing, cow was not.

She has an M brand on her rump, so she has been named Marilyn. Marilyn is 4 years old and about 3 months bred. Looking forward to meeting the calf.

She was keeping her eye on the pup in this shot. In the background you will see the neighboring rancher's cattle having a free-for-all. The fence must be down somewhere.

Linking to Saturday Critters

9 comments:

  1. Hello, beautiful cows and photos. I see the cattle loose, they like their freedom. Thanks for the breed info! Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thanks for the visit and comment.

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  2. I think that's the first I've heard of that type of cow.

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  3. Aren't they a beautiful chocolate color! WOW!

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  4. Beautiful looking, thanks for the information and photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  5. Beautiful beasts! I think everyone has heard of the King Ranch, but you gave us so much great info on their cattle breeding. Lots I did not know. Nice post!

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  6. i remember touring the king Ranch when we were RVing full time and enjoyed learning about that breed of cattle and how it was bred for harsh (hot and dry) conditions. it's a lovely cow!!

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  7. i wonder what she thinks of the M on the back rump area? wonder if it hurts. gorgeous color. ( ;

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