198 



The Journal cf Heredity 



A NELLORE-GUJARAT CROSS 



The two principal breeds of zebu cattle in Brazil are the large, long-eared, long-horned Gujarat, 

 and the smaller, more graceful, shorter-horned Xcllore. This two-year-old bull, "Mar- 

 more," bred by Sr. Jose Caetano Borges of Uberaba, Minas, Brazil, is a cross between the 

 two breeds mentioned. Brazilian breeders on the whole do not take any i)articular care 

 to keep the various breeds of zebu separate, but mix them and cross them indiscriminately. 

 (Fig. 3.) 



is still in the hands of the family. 

 Sr. Cassiano Lcmos has about 900 head 

 of jjurcbreds and crosses, the latter 

 bein^ mostly half or seven-eights zeliu, 

 on the native or "crioulo" stock. 

 These crosses in most cases have all the 

 colors and characteristics of the Indian 

 cattle. 



ZEBUS ARE FECUND 



The Lemos brothers speak hij.,dil\- 

 of the zebu as a general purpose animal. 

 The bulls arc very fecund, and the cows, 

 hybrid or purebred, are mtich more 

 ])r()liric than the native Brazilian cattle. 

 The animals remain nearer toj^a-ther in 

 the herd than do most cattle — an 

 advantaj^e when it is desired to cornil 

 them from the range. I saw one little 



boy sent out to 1)rinj.,^ in a larj^a> herd 

 single handed. 



The cows are milked only once a day — 

 early in the morning. A good milker 

 \'ields from 1 to 3 gallons: we saw a 

 herd of 200 cows, pasture-fed only, 

 which yielded 600 litres (6vS4 quarts). 

 After milking, the cows are ttumed out 

 and their calves allowed to rtm with 

 them and suck until about 2 o'clock in 

 the afternoon, when they are separated 

 until next morning; the calf is weaned 

 at the age of 6 months. Mr. Lemos 

 told us that they lose about 10% 

 of their young calves from various 

 catises — diarrhea or lack of care. The 

 calf is a vahiable assistant to the rancher 

 at milking time, being turned into the 

 corral with his mother an<l allowed to 



