EVIDENCE OF ALTERNATIVE INHERITANCE 

 IN THE F 2 GENERATION FROM CROSSES 

 OF BOS INDICUS ON BOS TAURUS 



DR. ROBERT K. NABOURS 

 Kansas State A< iriccltural College 



. The common domestic cattle of India appear to be a 

 distinct species {Bos indicus). They are mainly charac- 

 terized by a large hump on the fore shoulders, short 

 horns, large drooping ears, extensive dewlap and sheath 

 (Fig. 1). There are several varieties, or breeds, but they 

 are so commonly hybridized that it is exceedingly difficult 

 to ascertain which are the pure strains and which hybrids. 

 In this respect they are probably analogous to Bos 

 tn urns. In size they vary greatly, ranging from very 

 diminutive breeds to those the largest individuals of 

 which weigh upwards of 2,000 pounds. The males are 

 considerably heavier than the cows. The colors also vary 

 considerably, the most common being creamy buff, brown, 

 ashy gray, red, black and white, and blends of these. 



They appear to be highly resistant to the cattle dis- 

 eases of tropical and subtropical countries, and they are 

 immune to the attacks of cattle ticks, that is, ticks do not 

 remain attached to them and suck their blood (Figs. 1 

 and 9), and they are said to be less liable to suffer from 

 the effects of the bites of insects than any of the breeds of 



They are very gentle and docile. In India the males 

 are used as beasts of draught, and are yoked to the plow, 

 being the main animal used for tilling the ground. They 



a day, carrying a heavy burden, or drawing a cart with a 

 considerable load on it. Recently they have been intro- 



