Zebu — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|South Asian domestic cattle}} {{distinguish|Zebra}} {{Other uses|Zebu (disambiguation)}} {{Speciesbox | image = A well-fed bull in Kuno WS AJTJ P1070807.jpg |image2=Sound Ideas, COW - SINGLE MOO, ANIMAL 02.wav | classification_status = disputed,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature |title=Opinion 75. Twenty-Seven Generic Names of Protozoa, Vermes, Pisces, Reptilia and Mammalia Included in the Official List of Zoological Names |journal=Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections |date=1922 |volume=73 |issue=1 |pages=35–37 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8910949}}</ref> see {{slink ||Taxonomy and name}} | genus = Bos | species = indicus | authority = Linnaeus, 1758<ref name=ASM21/> | synonyms = {{Genus list | Bos indicus |Linnaeus, 1758 | ''Bos taurus'' |Linnaeus, 1758 (heterotypic) | Bos domesticus |Erxleben, 1777 (heterotypic) | Bos zebu |Boddaert, 1785 | ''Bos longifrons'' |R. Owen, 1844 (heterotypic) | incomplete = yes }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name=ASM21/><ref name=Linnaeus>{{Cite book |author=Linnaeus, C. |title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis |location=Holmiae |publisher=Laurentii Salvii |date=1758 |page=71 |chapter=''Bos indicus'' |language=la |volume=1 |edition=Tenth reformed |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/mobot31753000798865/page/72/mode/1up}}</ref> }}

The '''zebu''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|iː|b|(|j|)|uː|,_|ˈ|z|eː|b|uː}}; '''''Bos indicus'''''), also known as '''indicine cattle''' and '''humped cattle''', is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in South Asia.<ref name=Chen10>{{Cite journal|last1=Chen |first1=S. |last2=Lin |first2=B.-Z. |last3=Baig |first3=M. |last4=Mitra |first4=B. |last5=Lopes |first5=R. J. |last6=Santos |first6=A. M. |last7=Magee |first7=D. A. |last8=Azevedo |first8=M. |last9=Tarroso |first9=P. |last10=Sasazaki |first10=S. |last11=Ostrowski |first11=S. |date=2010 |title=Zebu cattle are an exclusive legacy of the South Asia Neolithic |journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution |volume=27|issue=1 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.1093/molbev/msp213 |pmid=19770222 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Zebu, like many Sanga cattle breeds, differ from taurine cattle in the fatty hump on their shoulders, their large dewlap, and their sometimes-drooping ears. They are well adapted to high temperatures and are raised throughout the tropics.

The zebu is used as a draught and riding animal, as dairy cattle and beef cattle, and as a source of byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure. Some small breeds such as Nadudana (also known as the miniature zebu)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Miniature Zebu Cattle |url=https://breeds.okstate.edu/cattle/miniature-zebu-cattle.html |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Oklahoma State University}}</ref> are also kept as pets like dogs.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-08-100596-5.00619-3 |chapter=''Bos indicus'' Breeds and Bos indicus × Bos taurus Crosses |title=Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences |date=2019 |last1=Madalena |first1=F.E. |last2=Toledo-Alvarado |first2=H. |last3=Cala-Moreno |first3=N. |pages=30–47 |isbn=978-0-12-818767-8 }}</ref>

In some regions, zebu have significant religious meaning.

==Taxonomy== {{wiktionary|indicus|indicine|zebu}} Both scientific names ''Bos taurus'' and ''Bos indicus'' were introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, with the latter used for humped cattle in China.<ref name=Linnaeus/>

The zebu was classified as a distinct species by Juliet Clutton-Brock in 1999,<ref name=Clutton-Brock1999>{{Cite book |title=A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals |last=Clutton-Brock |first=J. |author-link=Juliet Clutton-Brock |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |date=1999 |isbn=978-0-521-63495-3 |oclc=39786571 |orig-date=1987 |edition=Second |page=85 |chapter=Asiatic cattle |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cgL-EbbB8a0C&pg=PA85}}</ref> but was later classified as a subspecies of the domestic cattle, ''Bos taurus indicus'', by both Clutton-Brock and Colin Groves in 2004<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gentry |first1=A. |last2=Clutton-Brock |first2=J. |last3=Groves |first3=C. P. |title=The naming of wild animal species and their domestic derivatives |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science |date=May 2004 |volume=31 |issue=5 |pages=645–651 |doi=10.1016/j.jas.2003.10.006 |bibcode=2004JArSc..31..645G}}</ref> and by Peter Grubb in 2005.<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Artiodactyla |id=14200687 |pages=645–646 |heading=Subspecies ''Bos taurus indicus''}}</ref> In 2011, Groves and Grubb classified it as a distinct species again.<ref>{{cite book |first1=C. |last1=Groves |first2=P. |last2=Grubb |year=2011 |title=Ungulate taxonomy |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |location=Baltimore |pages=8–9 |chapter=Domestication |isbn=978-1-4214-0093-8 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3uZtA1ZpTAC&pg=PA9}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=September 2023}}

The American Society of Mammalogists considers it as belonging to the species ''Bos taurus'' in analogy to Sanga cattle (''Bos taurus africanus'' {{small|Kerr, 1792}}).<ref name=ASM21>{{Cite web |work=American Society of Mammalogists |title=''Bos taurus'' |date=2021 |url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/explore.html#genus=Bos&species=taurus&id=1006267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501164649/https://www.mammaldiversity.org/explore.html#genus=Bos&species=taurus&id=1006267 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref> The extinct wild aurochs (''Bos primigenius'') is thought to have diverged into two distinct genetic strains: the humped ''Bos indicus'' and the humpless ''Bos taurus''.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |author1=Utsunomiya, Y.T. |author2=Milanesi, M. |author3=Fortes, M.R.S. |author4=Porto-Neto, L.R. |author5=Utsunomiya, A.T.H. |author6=Silva, M.V.G.B. |author7=Garcia, J.F. |author8=Ajmone-Marsan, P. |year=2019 |title=Genomic clues of the evolutionary history of ''Bos indicus'' cattle |journal=Animal Genetics |volume=50 |issue=6 |pages=557–568 |doi-access=free |doi=10.1111/age.12836|pmid=31475748 }}</ref>

==Origin== Zebu cattle were found to derive from the Indian form of aurochs and one of the key centers of the Indian Subcontinent been domesticated between 6,000 and 7,000 YBP at Mehrgarh, present-day Pakistan, with South India and Gujarat from Western-India being the additional centers for domestication.<ref name="Vuure">{{cite book |author=Van Vuure, C. |year=2005 |title=Retracing the Aurochs: History, Morphology and Ecology of an Extinct Wild Ox |publisher=Pensoft Publishers |location=Sofia |isbn=978-954-642-235-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bradley |first1=D. G. |last2=MacHugh |first2=D. E. |last3=Cunningham |first3=P. |last4=Loftus |first4=R. T. |date=1996 |title=Mitochondrial diversity and the origins of African and European cattle |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=93 |issue=10 |pages=5131–5135 |doi=10.1073/pnas.93.10.5131 |pmid=8643540 |pmc=39419 |bibcode=1996PNAS...93.5131B |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Pérez-Pardal |first1=L. |last2=Sánchez-Gracia |first2=A. |last3=Álvarez |first3=I. |last4=Traoré |first4=A. |last5=Ferraz |first5=J. B. S. |last6=Fernández |first6=I. |last7=Costa |first7=V. |last8=Chen |first8=S. |last9=Tapio |first9=M. |last10=Cantet |first10=R. J. C. |last11=Patel |first11=A. |last12=Meadow |first12=R. H. |last13=Marshall |first13=F. B. |last14=Beja-Pereira |first14=A. |last15=Goyache |first15=F. |date=2018 |title=Legacies of domestication, trade and herder mobility shape extant male zebu cattle diversity in South Asia and Africa |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=1 |page=18027 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-36444-7 |pmid=30575786 |pmc=6303292 |bibcode=2018NatSR...818027P}}</ref><ref name=Gangal_14>{{cite journal |last1=Gangal |first1=K. |last2=Sarson |first2=G. R. |last3=Shukurov |first3=A. |title=The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2014 |volume=9 |issue=5 |article-number=e95714 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0095714 |pmid=24806472 |pmc=4012948 |bibcode=2014PLoSO...995714G |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Its wild ancestor, the Indian aurochs, became extinct during the Indus Valley Civilisation likely due to habitat loss, caused by expanding pastoralism and interbreeding with domestic zebu.<ref name=Chen10/><ref name=IWH2>{{cite book |author=Rangarajan, M. |year=2001 |title=India's Wildlife History |page=4 |location=Delhi, India |publisher=Permanent Black |isbn=978-81-7824-140-1}}</ref> Its latest remains ever found were dated to 3,800 YBP, making it the first of the three aurochs subspecies to die out.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Turvey |first1=S. T. |last2=Sathe |first2=V. |last3=Crees |first3=J. J. |last4=Jukar |first4=A. M. |last5=Chakraborty |first5=P. |last6=Lister |first6=A. M. |title=Late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions in India: How much do we know? |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |date=2021 |volume=252 |article-number=106740 |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106740 |bibcode=2021QSRv..25206740T |s2cid=234265221 |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10116065/12/Turvey_India_megafauna_paper_highlights.pdf }}</ref><ref name="Chen10" /> thumb|Bull in Seal of Indus valley civilization [[File:GODL Rampurva bull in profile.jpg|thumb|A Pillar of Ashoka, dating to the 3rd century BCE, depicting a zebu]] [[File:Coin of Azes II LACMA M.84.110.8 (2 of 2).jpg|thumb|Zebu pictured on a coin of the Indo-Scythian king Azes II, late first century BCE]]

Archaeological evidence including depictions on pottery and rocks suggests that humped cattle likely imported from the Near East was present in Egypt around 4,000 YBP. Its first appearance in the Subsahara is dated to after 700 AD and it was introduced to the Horn of Africa around 1000.<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor=2743556 |title=Rethinking the Role of ''Bos indicus'' in Sub-Sahara Africa |last=Marshall, F. |date=1989 |journal=Current Anthropology |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=235–240 |doi=10.1086/203737 |s2cid=143063029}}</ref>

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the zebu Y chromosome haplotype groups are found in three different lineages: Y3A, the most predominant and cosmopolitan lineage; Y3B, only observed in West Africa; and Y3C, predominant in south and northeast India.<ref name=":1" />

==Characteristics== thumb|A Zebu bull [[File:Kankrej 01.JPG|thumbnail|Female zebu of Kankrej breed from Gujarat, India]] Zebu, as well as many Sanga cattle, have humps on the shoulders, large dewlaps and droopy ears.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ifizci.com/zebu-information-about-the-humped-cattle/|publisher=IFIZCI |access-date=2007-09-08|title=Definition: Zebu}}</ref>

Compared to taurine cattle, the zebu is well adapted to the hot tropical savanna climate and steppe environments. These adaptations result in higher tolerance for drought, heat and sunlight exposure.<ref name=Mukasa-Mugerwa>{{cite book |last1=Mukasa-Mugerwa |first1=E. |title=A Review of a Reproductive Performance of Female ''Bos Indicus'' (zebu) Cattle |date=1989 |publisher=ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD) |isbn=978-92-9053-099-2 |hdl=10568/4217 |hdl-access=free }}{{page needed|date=July 2024}}</ref>

== Behaviour and ecology== Studies on the natural weaning of zebu cattle have shown that cows wean their calves over a 2-week period, but after that, continue to show strong affiliatory behavior with their offspring and preferentially choose them for grooming and as grazing partners for at least 4–5 years.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reinhardt |first1=V. |last2=Reinhardt|first2=A. |year=1981 |title=Cohesive relationships in a cattle herd (''Bos indicus'') |journal=Behaviour |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=121–150 |doi=10.1163/156853981X00194 |bibcode=1981Behav..77..121R }}</ref>

===Reproduction=== Zebu are generally mature enough to give birth when they are 29 months old. This is based on the development of their bodies to withstand the strain of carrying the calf and lactation. Early reproduction can place too much stress on the body and possibly shorten lifespans. The gestation period averages 285 days, but varies depending on the age and nutrition of the mother. The sex of the calf may also affect the carrying time, as male calves are carried for a longer period than females. Location, breed, body weight, and season affect the overall health of the animal and in return may also affect the gestation period.<ref name=Mukasa-Mugerwa/>

=== Health and diseases === The zebu is susceptible to nagana as it does not exhibit trypanotolerance.<ref name=MacHugh-et-al-1997>{{cite journal |last1=MacHugh |first1=D.E. |title=Microsatellite DNA Variation and the evolution, domestication and phylogeography of Taurine and Zebu Cattle (''Bos taurus'' and ''Bos indicus'') |journal=Genetics |volume=146 |issue=3 |year=1997 |pages=1071–1086 |doi=10.1093/genetics/146.3.1071 |pmid=9215909 |pmc=1208036 }}</ref><ref name=Makina-et-al-2016>{{cite journal |last1=Makina |first1=S.O. |last2=Whitacre |first2=L.K. |last3=Decker |first3=J.E. |last4=Taylor |first4=J.F. |last5=MacNeil |first5=M.D. | last6=Scholtz |first6=M.M. |last7=Van Marle-Köster |first7=E. |last8=Muchadeyi |first8=F.C. |last9=Makgahlela |first9=M.L. |last10=Maiwashe |first10=A. |title=Insight into the genetic composition of South African Sanga cattle using SNP data from cattle breeds worldwide |journal=Genetics Selection Evolution |volume=48 |issue=1 |date=2016 |page=88 |doi=10.1186/s12711-016-0266-1 |pmid=27846793 |pmc=5111355 |doi-access=free }}</ref> It is said to be resilient to parasites.<ref name=":0" />

==Breeds and hybrids== Zebu are very common in much of Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and China. In Asia, taurine cattle are mainly found in the northern regions such as Japan, Korea, northern China and Mongolia. In China, taurine cattle are most common in northern breeds, zebu more common in southern breeds, with hybrids in between.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cai |first1=Dawei |last2=Sun |first2=Yang |last3=Tang |first3=Zhuowei |last4=Hu |first4=Songmei |last5=Li |first5=Wenying |last6=Zhao |first6=Xingbo |last7=Xiang |first7=Hai |last8=Zhou |first8=Hui |title=The origins of Chinese domestic cattle as revealed by ancient DNA analysis |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science |date=January 2014 |volume=41 |pages=423–434 |doi=10.1016/j.jas.2013.09.003 |bibcode=2014JArSc..41..423C }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Komosińska |first1=Halina |last2=Podsiadło |first2=Elżbieta |title=Ssaki kopytne: przewodnik |trans-title=Hoofed mammals: a guide |date=2002 |publisher=Wydaw. Naukowe PWN |isbn=978-83-01-13806-6 |location=Warszawa |language=pl |oclc=749423644 }}{{page needed|date=July 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Zébus de Madagascar 02.jpg|thumb|Zebu market in Madagascar]]

Geneticists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia discovered that cattle had been domesticated in Africa independently of domestication in the Near East. They concluded that the southern African cattle populations derive originally from East Africa rather than from a southbound migration of taurine cattle.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hanotte |first1=Olivier |last2=Bradley |first2=Daniel G. |last3=Ochieng |first3=Joel W. |last4=Verjee |first4=Yasmin |last5=Hill |first5=Emmeline W. |last6=Rege |first6=J. Edward O. |title=African Pastoralism: Genetic Imprints of Origins and Migrations |journal=Science |date=12 April 2002 |volume=296 |issue=5566 |pages=336–339 |doi=10.1126/science.1069878 |pmid=11951043 |bibcode=2002Sci...296..336H }}</ref> The results are inconclusive as to whether domestication occurred first in Africa or the Near East.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stokstad |first1=Erik |title=Early Cowboys Herded Cattle in Africa |journal=Science |date=12 April 2002 |volume=296 |issue=5566 |page=236 |doi=10.1126/science.296.5566.236a |pmid=11951007 }}</ref>

Sanga cattle breeds is considered to have originated from hybridization of zebu with taurine cattle <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mwai |first1=Okeyo |last2=Hanotte |first2=Olivier |last3=Kwon |first3=Young-Jun |last4=Cho |first4=Seoae |date=July 2015 |title=- Invited Review - African Indigenous Cattle: Unique Genetic Resources in a Rapidly Changing World |journal=Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences |language=English |volume=28 |issue=7 |pages=911–921 |doi=10.5713/ajas.15.0002R |issn=1011-2367 |pmc=4478499 |pmid=26104394}}</ref> leading to the Afrikaner, Red Fulani, Ankole, Boran and many other breeds.

Some 75 breeds of zebu are known, split about evenly between African and Indian breeds.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"  | List of widely distributed zebu breeds |- | {{ulist |Gyr<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://butlerfarms.us/gyr-cattle/ |title=Gyr Cattle |work=Butler Farms}}</ref> |Kankrej and Guzerat<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://breeds.okstate.edu/cattle/kankrej-cattle.html |title = Breeds of livestock - Kankrej Cattle| date=28 April 2021 }}</ref> |Indo-Brazilian<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://butlerfarms.us/indu-brasil-cattle/ |title=Indu Brasil Cattle |work=Butler Farms}}</ref> |Brahman<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/beef-cattle/breeding/beef-cattle-breeds/brahman |title=Cattle Breeds-Brahman | date=2024 |access-date=2024-07-05 | archive-date=2024-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704160623/https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/beef-cattle/breeding/beef-cattle-breeds/brahman }}</ref> |Sibi Bhagnari<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338790137|title=Beef breeds of Pakistan}}</ref> |White Nukra<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232016637 |title=White Fulani cattle of West and Central Africa}}</ref> |Cholistani<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pakdairyinfo.com/cholistani.htm |title=Cholistani Cattle}}</ref> |Dhanni<ref name=Joshi1953>{{Cite book |author1=Joshi, N.R. |author2=Phillips, R.W. |date=1953 |url=https://www.fao.org/4/an469e/an469e.pdf |title=Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organisation |place=Rome}}</ref> |Lohani<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Nelore |Ongole<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Sahiwal<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Red Sindhi<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Butana and Kenana<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Signatures of positive selection in African Butana and Kenana dairy zebu cattle |date=2018 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0190446 |doi-access=free |last1=Bahbahani |first1=H. |last2=Salim |first2=B. |last3=Almathen |first3=F. |last4=Al Enezi |first4=F. |last5=Mwacharo |first5=J. M. | last6=Hanotte |first6=O. | journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=1 |article-number=e0190446 |pmid=29300786 |pmc=5754058 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1390446B}}</ref> |Baggara<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301540790 |title=Phenotypic Characterization of Sudan Zebu Cattle (Baggara Type)}}</ref> |Tharparkar<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Kangayam<ref name=Joshi1953/> |Southern Yellow<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1= Y.-C. |last2=Cao |first2=H.-H. |url=https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=7693 |title=Diversity of Chinese yellow cattle breeds and their conservation |journal=Biodiversity Science |year=2001 |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=275–283 |doi=10.17520/biods.2001042}}</ref> |Kedah Kelantan<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26591189 |title=Effect of Malaysian Zebu Cattle (Kedah-Kelantan) and their European Crosses on the Tick Biological Parameters Following Repeated Experimental Infestations}}</ref> |Local Indian Dairy<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://jtafs.mardi.gov.my/jtafs/17-1/Distribution%20and%20production.pdf| title=Distribution and production characteristics of Friesian crossbred cattle in Malaysia| access-date=2024-07-06| archive-date=2024-07-06| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706203529/http://jtafs.mardi.gov.my/jtafs/17-1/Distribution%20and%20production.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |}

[[File:Hariana_02.JPG|thumbnail|Hariana breed of zebu type cattle in north India]] Other breeds of zebu are quite local, like the Hariana from Haryana, Punjab<ref>{{cite book |author=Porter, V. |year=1991 |title=Cattle: A Handbook to the Breeds of the World |location=London |publisher=Helm |chapter=Hariana — India: Haryana, eastern Punjab |page=245 |chapter-url= |isbn=0-8160-2640-8}}</ref> or the Rath from Alwar district, Rajasthan.<ref>{{cite book |author=Porter, V. |year=1991 |title=Cattle: A Handbook to the Breeds of the World |location=London |publisher=Helm |chapter=Rath — India: Alwar and eastern Rajasthan |page=246 |isbn=0-8160-2640-8}}</ref>

Zebu were imported into Brazil in the early 20th century. Their importation marked a change in cattle ranching in Brazil as they were considered "ecological" since they could graze on natural grasses, and their meat was lean and without chemical residues.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilcox |first1=R.W. |chapter=Zebu's Elbows: Cattle Breeding the Environment in Central Brazil, 1890-1960 |pages=218–246 |editor1-last=Brannstrom |editor1-first=Christian |title=Territories, Commodities and Knowledges: Latin American Environmental History in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries |date=2004 |publisher=Institute for the Study of the Americas |isbn=978-1-900039-57-4}}</ref> From the 1960s onwards, Nelore which is an off breed of Ongole Cattle became the primary cattle breed in Brazil because of its hardiness, heat-resistance, and because it thrives on poor-quality forage and breeds easily, with the calves rarely requiring human intervention to survive. More than 80% of beef cattle in Brazil (approximately 167,000,000 animals) are either purebred or hybrid Ongole Cattle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Nelore Cattle |url=https://breeds.okstate.edu/cattle/nelore-cattle.html |access-date=2025-09-05 |work=Oklahoma State University}}</ref>

==Uses== [[File:India.Mumbai.04.jpg|thumb|Draft zebu pulling a cart in Mumbai, India (2004)]] thumb|A villager with a decorated bull during Pongal festival Zebu are used as draught and riding animals, beef cattle, dairy cattle, as well as for byproducts such as hides, dung for fuel and manure, and horn for knife handles and the like. Zebu, mostly miniature zebu, are kept as pets.<ref>{{cite web |title=One of the Oldest Cattle Breeds |url=https://www.amzaonline.org/one-of-the-oldest-cattle-breeds/ |website=American Miniature Zebu Association |access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref> In India, the number of draft cattle in 1998 was estimated at 65.7 million head.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Phaniraja |first1=K.L. |last2=Panchasara |first2=H.H. |year=2009 |title=Indian draught animals power |journal=Veterinary World |issue=10 |volume=2 |pages=404–407 |url=https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.2/October/Indian%20Draught%20Animals%20Power.pdf }}</ref> Zebu cows commonly have low production of milk. They do not produce milk until maturation later in their lives and do not produce much. When zebus are crossed with taurine cattle, milk production generally increases.<ref name=Mukasa-Mugerwa/>

In Madagascar, zebu outnumber people. Zebu are wrestled by young men in a competitive ritual of courtship called ''tolon'omby''.<ref name=Combeau-Mari2011>{{Cite journal |last=Combeau-Mari |first=E. |date=2011 |title=Traditional Fighting Practices: The Root and Expression of Malagasy Culture |journal=The International Journal of the History of Sport |volume=28 |issue=12 |pages=1566–1585 |doi=10.1080/09523367.2011.592749 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ratsimandresy |first1=D.A. |last2=Rakototiana |first2=A. |date=2015 |title=Avulsion péno-scrotale par encornement de zebu |trans-title=Penile and scrotal avulsion caused by zebu horns |language=fr |journal=The Pan African Medical Journal |volume=20 |page=91 |doi=10.11604/pamj.2015.20.91.5832 |pmc=4506798 |pmid=26213592 }}</ref>

Within the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, zebu are used for jallikattu.

In 1999, researchers at Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cloning gives second chance for bull |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/437391.stm |work=BBC News |date=3 September 1999 }}</ref>

=== Hindu tradition === {{further|Cattle slaughter in India}} Zebu are venerated in Hinduism of India. In the historical Vedic religion they were a symbol of plenty.<ref name=Jha2002>{{Cite book|last=Jha|first=D. N.|title=The myth of the holy cow |date=2002 |publisher=Verso |isbn=978-1-85984-676-6 |location=London|page=130}}</ref>{{rp|130}} In later times they gradually acquired their present status. According to the ''Mahabharata'', they are to be treated with the same respect 'as one's mother'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahabharata, Book 13-Anusasana Parva, Section LXXVI|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b041.htm|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012075852/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b041.htm|archive-date=12 October 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013|publisher=Sacred-texts.com}}</ref> In the middle of the first millennium, the consumption of beef began to be disfavoured by lawgivers.<ref name=Jha2002/>{{rp|144}}

Milk and milk products were used in Vedic rituals.<ref name=Jha2002/>{{rp|130}} In the postvedic period products like milk, curd, ghee, but also cow dung and urine gomutra, or the combination of these five panchagavya began to assume an increasingly important role in ritual purification and expiation.<ref name=Jha2002/>{{rp|130–131}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

Category:Bos Category:Mammals described in 1758 Category:Domesticated animals Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus