Oct. 1, 1901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
233 
ZEBU CATTLE IN TRINIDAD. 
BY C. W. MEADEN. 
Manager of the Government Farm, Trinidad. 
AND J. H. HART, F.L.S., 
Superintendent, Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad. 
The introduction of Zebn cattle into Trinidad date^ 
from the year 1879, when three bulls and three cow^ 
were imported. Others were introduced about the same 
time or a little latter, by enterpriising planters, and 
the resulting influence on the herds on their estates 
was markedly apparent. The notes in this paper, 
however, refer in the main to the work of the Govern 
ment Farm, The bulls originally introduced were 
obtained from the Bast Indian Government Hissar, 
an establishment maintained ty that Government 
tor the production of gun bullocks. This institution 
does not part with female stock and Trinidad is 
under an ol)ligation to General Angel of Hissar, 
farm for the purchase of its cows, which were des- 
cribed as pure bred Hurinahs. From this beginning 
the Trinidad herd has been formed. It has been 
kept pure, and, by the introduction of a new bull 
every fourth year, deterioration has been prevented. 
Photographs and measurements have been exchanged 
with the Indian Department which show that Trini- 
dad is not only on equal terms with, but, in some 
instances, even in advance of them. 
The Zebu or Brahmin is of great antiquity, and 
the continuity of special characters and form is 
specially remarkable, naturalists classing it as a 
distinct species under the name of Bos indicus, a 
name which indicates its native country. The 
poims of a true Zebu are not difficult to describe, 
but their crosses are scarcely distinguishable from 
a pure bred animal and it is only when an 
authentic herd-book is available that any positive 
pronouncement can be made ; a state of aiiaira 
which obtains in almost any breed of cattle. The 
distinguishing points of this magnificent breed may 
be described as follows ; — Prominent hump on the 
forequarter of the male and female — smaller in the 
latter ; long pendulous ears, silky to the touch ; 
heavy dewlap extending to the lower jaw ; short 
orescent horns ; drooping hind quarters ; fineness of 
skin ; slender limbs ; and tail terminating with a 
fine trace of black hairs. The appearance of the 
animal should be calm and dignified, the eye full and 
prominent, with a look of latent power than can at 
at times be well displayed. A pure bred bull on his 
own domain is one of the most stately animals in 
existence. The Zebu ox is a splendid draft animal 
well adapted for tropical agricultural wcrk, extremely 
active, and possessed of great powers of endurance. 
His fine limbs, sound hard feet and good action are 
all in his favour as a working animal. With a 
minimum amount of feeding and care he is capable 
of doing more heavy and exhausting work thsn any 
other beast of burden in the tropics. Well bred 
oxen are however somewhat diffi' ult to break in, but 
once broken, they are very docile and obedient, as 
can be seen by the way in which little coolie boya 
are able to control them. The Negro is, as a rule, 
unable to exercise the same control over thii class of 
cattle as the Bast Indian driver. Good working oxen 
are always saleable and the prices real ^.d at the 
Government sales have invariably been satisfactory, 
although of late years they have decreased somewhat 
owing to the uncertain state of the sugar industry. 
As milkers, the pure breed fails in some res- 
pects. Most of them re.=iBt the restraint which 
necessarily accompanies the act of milking and in 
consequence their yield is deficient. Their milk is 
Bomewhat weaker than that of ordinary milch cows 
under the same treatment, the analysis showiHg ai 
follows : — 
Specific gravity. Solids Fat. Ash. Cream 
(not fat). 
Zebu Cow 1031-0 8-9 3'72 -72 4-5 
Ordinary Cow 1027-7 9 09 4'o5 -75 7-0 
The above analysis was made with the aftornooa 
milkings. It would not be fair to the Zebu, however, 
to condemn them entirely on the trial of their milking 
qualities in Trinidad. It is ceriain that for long years 
in India the milking qualities have not been at first 
consideration, other points have been considered as 
of more importance in selection. It is clearly possi- 
ble that, by proper selection, a strain of Zebu milkers 
might be obtained little, if at all, inferior to any 
other class of cattle. This view is strength- 
ened by the fact that individual cows have beea 
found among the herd whi> h have proved them- 
selves excellent milkers. The practice in Trinidad 
IS to allow the calves to run with the dams as 
soon as they are strong enough, with the object 
o£ bringing them forward as fast as possible, and 
giving them every advantage at the annual sales. 
Crossinii milch cows with a pure bred bull has 
often resulted in the production of first class 
milkers, but the milking qualiiies appear to suffer 
If bred too close. A first or second cross produces 
animals eminently suited to the tropics, inured 
alike to heat or moisture, invariably thrifty and 
giving milk which compares favourably both in 
quantity and quality with that of any country 
What knowledge we have of the crossing of this 
breed for the production of beef is distinctly favour- 
able, the qijality is good, and from the butcher's 
point of view, they scale well, The waste in offal 
in animals killed in the tropics is generally greater 
than in temperate climates, on account of certain 
local conditions. 
Our bullocks from the time they are weaned 
until reaching four years old are entirely grass 
fed except for a short preparation previous to 
selling, At this age they scale some 1,000 to 1 200 
pounds, and are generally sleek and in prime con- 
dition for the butcher. Having been fed in clean 
pastures the meat is tender and entirely free from 
the large amount of " muscle " which renders the 
flesh of the imported ^Venezuelan cattle so touch 
and tasteless. * 
Well bred Zebu cattle cannot be termed tractabia 
in the same way as the Hereford, the Polled or 
the Jersey, but on their own ground they are not 
difficult to deal with. Trouble arises, however on 
their transference from one place to another or on 
any alteration in the handling to which they have 
become accustomed. In such cases they show ex- 
treme excitement and are prepared to go over or 
through, anything. Another disagreeable feature is 
their lying down and offering passive resistance 
when .veicome The best treatment in such a case 
is, not to beat them or to permit the too common 
practice of tail twisting, but to fill their nostrila 
and ears with cold water by throwing it smartly 
in their faces. Nothing brings them to their feet 
quicker than this simple and harmless treatment. 
Ihe plan of dealing with cattle in the Trinidad 
herd IS not to drive them but to call them, rat- 
tling the feeding bucket at the same time Zebus 
can be easily led, but they cannot be driven To 
effect this, one or two of the herd are trained to 
hand-feeding. They soon recognize the rattling of 
the bucket, so that when the herd is wanted the 
cry of the herdsman and the rattling of the bucket 
brings them home at a gallop. 
r.Itf°^^ l''''!?u°'^u°^^°, ^"^^ P"' 'I*" a reserve 
pasture which has been shut down in preparation 
for them «here they remain for some three months, 
and are hand-fed during this time with a mixture 
containing coco-nut meal, Indian cornmeal and 
middlings with a small addition of salt and 
linseed meal, which binds the whole and t" events 
waste in feeding. The ingredients are ma e into 
a mess with water and hand-fed in abuut lu f- 
pound lumps, each animHl receiving about thri* 
pounds at a time. The mixture is carried to th« 
field in buckets, one man stands guard, while tLa 
remainder, taking each a certain number, see that 
