American Brahman History

Crossbreeding's Common Denominator
As the first beef breed developed in the United States, the American Brahman has played an important role not only in crossbreeding programs throughout the United States and beyond, but it has become a common thread among other American breeds developed in the last century. American Brahman influence in the beef industry is felt world-wide, and their genetics are sought by cattlemen in every continent. Their development is a success story unparalled. Today's cattlemen breed Brahmans for all the right reasons.

Originating from a nucleus of approximately 266 bulls and 22 females of several Bos indicus (cattle of India) types imported into the United States between 1854 and 1926, today the Brahman breed has achieved acceptance for their environmental adaptivity, longevity, mothering ability and efficient beef production. Bos indicus cattle have been serving man for thousands of years. Throughout their evolution they have endured famine, insect pests, diseases and extreme temperature fluctuations. Thus through natural selection these cattle came to have the ability to survive and thrive where other types have failed. In their expansion, these cattle have improved beef produciton in every country in which they have been introduced, as they are mated to existing native cattle. While some 30 defined breeds or types of Bos indicus cattle have been identified in India, only a few of these breeds were selected to develop the American Brahman.

The first importation of Indian cattle of any notoriety came in 1854, when sugar and cotton farmer, Richard Barrow of St. Francisville, Louisiana, was presented with two bulls by the Government of Great Britian, for his services in teaching cotton and sugar cane production to British officials establishing these crops in the deltas of India. Their offspring, known as Barrow grade Cattle, would achieve recognition and their fame would soon spread around the globe. Later importations would see cattle brought from Brazil, where large numbers of these Indian cattle could be found.

The American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) was organized in 1924. J.W. Sartwelle of Houston was the first recording secretary of the Association and it was he who proposed the word "Brahman" and so it was adopted as the name of the new beef breed. With strict selection, guided by the standard of excellence developed by founding breeders, the American Brahman has been recognized for its exceptional hardiness and physical stamina, its ability to profitably produce on marginal lands, to live twice as long as normally expected, with unequaled performance in weight per day of age. As consumers shift to lean meat and lower calorie diets, Brahmans are perfectly positioned to fill the demand for a beef product which efficiently converts feed into high-quality beef, while producing a carcass free of excess fat.

ABBA standard of excellence

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Because of this added hybrid vigor, the use of Brahman bulls with European or English breed cows is one of the most popular crossbreeding practices in the United States, with the resulting Brahman F1 calf in high demand by cattlemen for replacement females or feeders in the feedlot.  

Years of crossbreeding research has consistently shown that ranchers get higher levels of heterosis when you cross a Brahman with a British or Continental breed compared to just breeding British or Continental breeds to each other. Because of this, Brahman cattle are often referred to as crossbreeding's common denominator. The Brahman F-1 cross is consistently superior to other crosses in weight per day of age and carcass efficiency. The Brahman F-1 is also very popular because these cattle display many important characteristics of their Brahman parent, such as drought resistance, heat tolerance, disease and parasite resistance and increased longevity.  

Queens of cow country
F-1 Brahman females are maternal machines....they have increased milk production, higher fertility, and wean faster-growing calves with fewer inputs. Plus, she will have a longer productive life, raising more calves over her lifetime than other breeds. In the feedlot, Brahman hybrid steers remain healthier and make the most rapid, efficient gains while producing heavier, higher yielding carcasses that are free of excess fat, which today’s packer and health-conscious consumer demand.

Recent crossbreeding reports from South American have shown the American Brahman to be an ideal cross with a variety of dairy breeds including Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, and more.

The ABBA has recently released the Winter 2011 EPD’s and Sire Summary. Three reports are available to be printed. Click on the files below to access these reports:

- ABBA Statistics
- ABBA Trait Leaders
- ABBA Sire Summary

The ABBA Show Animal of the Year honor is awarded to an outstanding individual in each of the following categories: Red Bull, Red Female, Grey Bull and Grey Female. Criteria for the award is based on points accumulated at ABBA approved shows from July 1 to June 30 of the next year. The following is an archived list of Show Animals of the Year from 1999 - 2011:

- ABBA Show Animals of the Year

The HK Memorial Trophy is presented each year in memory of Mr. Henry Clay Koontz.  This award was first presented in 1986 after the tragic death of Mr. Koontz who was a long time breeder and promoter of Brahman cattle.  The trophy is a bronze casting of the National Champion Bull, HK Mr. America 61/9, better known as Millionaire. This bull had one of the biggest impacts on the Brahman breed of any bull in history. Each year this award is presented to the ranch or individual who accumulates the most points at the previous year's International Brahman Show. 

The following is an archived list of HK Memorial Trophy recipients from 1986 - 2011:

- HK Memorial Trophy

American Brahman Research

The following articles are examples of modern research focusing on American Brahman cattle in the Journal of Animal Science, published by the American Society of Animal Science. Please click on each link for a copy of the research abstract.

• INFLUENCE OF BREED, HETEROZYGOSITY, AND DISEASE INCIDENCE ON ESTIMATES OF VARIANCE COMPONENTS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN PREWEANED BEEF CALVES
  G.D. Snowder, L.D. Van Vleck, L.V. Cundiff and G.L. Bennett - View PDF Abstract
  The objective of this study was to characterize genetic and environmental factors influencing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle.Records from nine purebred and three composite breeds and a variety of F-1 and three way crosses including the progeny of 12 additional different sire breeds produced over a 20 year period were evaluated for breed and heterozygosity effects on the observed incidence of BRD.  Heterozygosity fractions for calves and dams were defined by generalized breed origins: British, Continental and tropically adaptive. Calves that were British x Continental or tropically adaptive x British breeds had a lower incidence of BRD than did calves of British x British breeds.

• PREWEANING EFFICIENCY FOR MATURE COWS OF BREED CROSSES FROM TROPICALLY ADAPTED BOS INDICUS AND BOS TAURUS AND UNADAPTED BOS TAURUS BREEDS
  T.G. Jenkins and C.L. Ferrell - View PDF Abstract
  Production data was collected on mature cows produced by mating Angus and Hereford, Brahman, Boran and Tuli sires by AI or natural service to Hereford and Angus cows.  Means for milk yield at peak lactation, total milk yields, calf birth weight, age-adjusted weaning weights, preweaning daily gain, and feed efficiency were established.  Brahman crosses exhibited greater peak and total yield, lower birth weight, greater daily gain and adjusted weaning weight, and higher feed efficiency than did Bos taurus breed crosses.

• CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL TYPES OF CATTLE-CYCLE III: II. GROWTH RATE AND PUBERTY IN FEMALES
  Keith E. Gregory, D.B. Laster, L.V. Cundiff, G.M. Smith and R.M. Koch - View PDF Abstract
  Data on growth traits, puberty and pregnancy were analyzed on 490 crossbred females produced by artificial insemination from Hereford and Angus dams by Hereford, Angus, Brahman, Sahiwal, Pinzgauer and Tarentaise sires.  Brahman crosses were heavier at 200 and 500 days and had the highest pregnancy percentage at 550 days as compared to the other sire breeds.

• LIFE-CYCLE BIOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY OF BOS INDICUS X BOS TAURUS AND BOS TAURUS CROSSBRED COW-CALF PRODUCTION TO WEANING
  R.D. Green, L.V. Cundiff and G.E. Dickerson - View PDF Abstract
  A model was developed that accounted for all biological inputs and outputs for a theoretical herd of F-1 females at age equilibrium mated to produce three way cross terminal cross calves and for the required proportion of straightbred cows needed to produce replacements.  The results obtained indicate that feed cost per unit of weaned calf plus cull cow beef output would be 4% higher using 1/2 blood Brahman cows as compared to other breed crosses due to their efficiencies.

• OUTPUT/INPUT DIFFERENCES AMONG NONPREGNANT, LACTATING BOS INDICUS-BOS TAURUS AND BOS TAURUS-BOS TAURUS F-1 CROSS COWS
  R.D. Green, L.V. Cundiff, G.E. Dickerson and T.G. Jenkins - View PDF Abstract
  Non-pregnant F-1 crossbred cows, progeny of either Hereford or Angus dams and sired by Brahman, Sahiwal, Pinzgauer, Hereford or Angus sires, were fed to maintain initial weight while rearing Charolais sired progeny for a period of 126 days in a dry lot beginning at about 48 days after calving.  Cows and calves were weighed every 2 weeks and feed intake was adjusted to minimize the change in the cows weight.  Milk production was estimated by weigh-suckle weigh at 58, 85, 125 and 170 days of lactation.  Calf gain relative to cow weight was higher for Brahman cross calves as compared to the rest due to total milk production.  The total efficiency of calf gain in weight was 11% greater for crossbred cows of Bos indicu x Bos taurus than for Bos taurus x Bos taurus cows in the 126 day lactation period.

• REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, CALF GROWTH, AND MILK PRODUCTION OF FIRST-CALF HEIFERS SIRED BY SEVEN BREEDS AND RAISED ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NUTRITION
  H.C. Freetly and L.V. Cundiff - View PDF Abstract
  This study evaluated heifers crossbred from seven breeds of sires (Hereford, Angus, Belgian Blue, Piedmontese, Brahman, Boran and Tuli) and three breeds of dams (Angus, Herefordand MARC III[four breed composite]).  Each of the cross heifers was mated to a Red Poll bull to calve at 2 years of age.  Measurements of age of calf at partuition, birthweights, calf age at weaning, calf ADG and milk poroduction from 50-200 days were taken.  The results showed that milk production from 50 -200 days was the highest for the Brahman sired heifers and as a result their offspring had the highest ADG at weaning time.

• INFLUENCE OF FRAME SIZE AND BODY CONDITION SCORE ON PERFORMANCE OF BRAHMAN CATTLE
  C.A. Vargas, T.A. Olson, C.C. Chase, Jr., A.C. Hammond and M.A. Elzo - View PDF Abstract
  The effects of frame size and body condition score on performance of Brahman cows were evaluated using records collected from 1984 to 1994 at the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station.  The results indicate that the recommended cow size is moderate framed so that the cows can be maintained in adequate body condition under nutritional levels attainable under commercial conditions and produce steer progeny with acceptable carcass weights.

• EFFECT OF BREED COMPOSITION ON PHENOTYPIC RESIDUAL FEED INTAKE AND GROWTH IN ANGUS, BRAHMAN, AND ANGUS X BRAHMAN CROSSBRED CATTLE - View PDF Abstract
  M.A. Elzo, D.G. Riley, G.R. Hansen, D.D. Johnson, R.O. Myer, S.W. Coleman, C.C. Chase, J.G. Wasdin and J.D. Driver
  Research from the ARS, USDA Subtropical Agricultural Research Station in Florida, the University of Florida, North Carolina State University at Plymouth and the North Florida Research & Education Center studied the effect of breed composition on phenotypic residual feed intake and growth in Angus, Brahman, and Angus x Brahman crossbred cattle.  The influence of additive and nonadditive genetic effects and temperament on 4 postweaning feed intake and growth traits was evaluated in a group of 581 bull, heifer and steer calves born in 3 Florida herds in 2006 and 2007.  Calves had breed composition ranging from 100% Angus to 100% Brahman.  The results showed that Feed Efficiency tended to improve (decreased residual feed intake) as the percentage of Brahman increased.

• GENETIC AND NONGENETIC INFLUENCES ON VIGOR AT BIRTH AND PREWEANING MORTALITY OF PUREBRED AND HIGH PERCENTAGE BRAHMAN CALVES
  D.G. Riley, C.C. Chase, T.A. Olson, S.W. Coleman and A.C. Hammond - View PDF Abstract
  The objectives of this study were to assess the risk associated with proportion Brahman inheritance, cow age, dystocia, and birthdate weather conditions on calf vigor at birth and preweaning mortality.  It was found that very little improvements could be made through selection.  It is suggested that improvement programs such as scheduling the calving season to avoid detrimental low temperatures, crossing unrelated  bloodlines within the breed and cow calf behavior might improve vigor and survivability.

• ACTORS INFLUENCING TENDERNESS IN STEAKS FROM BRAHMAN CATTLE - View PDF Abstract
  D.G. Riley, D.D. Johnson, C.C. Chase, Jr., R.L. West, S.W. Coleman, T.A. Olsen, A.C. Hammond
  The objective of this study was to identify a set of explanatory variables for Warner-Bratzler shear force and myofibril fragmentation indices after 7, 14 and 21 days of aging and sensory tenderness after 14 days of aging of steaks from Brahman cattle.  Insoluable collagen was negatively associated with all tenderness traits across aging periods.  Insoluable collagen may be of special importance and offer a unique opportunity to improve palatability of steaks from purebred Brahman cattle.

• ESTIMATED GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR CARCASS TRAITS OF BRAHMAN CATTLE - View PDF Abstract
  D.G. Riley, C.C. Chase, Jr., A.C. Hammond, R.L. West, D.D. Johnson, T.A. Olson and S.W. Coleman
  Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated from feedlot and carcass data collected from 504 Brahman calves in Central Florida from 1996-2000.  It was found that the heritabilities were actually higher than most literature estimates and that sufficient genetic variation exists within the Brahman breed for design and implementation of effective selection programs for important carcass quality and trait yields.

• Genetic parameters for growth and carcass traits of Brahman steers
  T. Smith, J. D. Domingue, J. C. Paschal, D. E. Franke, T. D. Bidner and G. Whipple - View PDF Abstract
  This research from faculty at University of Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana State Agriculture Center, Texas A&M Research and Extension Cetner - Corpus Christi, and Central Community College focuses on EPDs for growth and carcass traits of Brahman steers. It evaluated 467 head of purebred Brahman bull calves, sired by 68 bulls in 17 private herds in Louisiana. The study looked at variation in growth, carcass, and tenderness traits.

• Maternal and reproductive performance of Brahman x Angus, Senepol x Angus, and Tuli x Angus cows in the subtropics
  C. C. Chase, Jr., D. G. Riley, T. A Olson , S. W. Coleman and A. C. Hammond - View PDF Abstract
  Research from the ARS, USDA Subtropical Agricultural Research Station in Florida and the University of Florida studied the maternal and reproductive performance of F-1 cows in the subtropics. This research compared Brahman x Angus cows, Senepol x Angus cows, and Tuli x Angus cows who were all bred to Angus bulls as first calf heifers, and then to Charolais bulls as 3 to 8 year old cows. This data found that the other breeds were comparable to Brahman as far as reproductive performance but that the Brahman crosses exhibited greater peak and total yield, lower birth weight, greater daily gain and adjusted weaning weight, and higher feed efficiency than did Bos taurus breed crosses. The Brahman crosses also had advantages in calf survival.

• Preweaning efficiency for mature cows of breed crosses from tropically adapted Bos indicus and Bos taurus and unadapted Bos taurus breeds
  T. G. Jenkins and C. L. Ferrell - View PDF Abstract
  This U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) data shows that tropically adapted Bos indicus were more efficient than Bos taurus. Bos indicus breed crosses exhibited greater peak and total yield, lower birth weight, greater daily gain and adjusted weaning weight, and higher feed efficiency than did Bos taurus breed crosses.

• Effects of Restricted Nursing on Physiological and Behavioral reactons of brahman cattle to subsequent restraint and weaning - View PDF Abstract
  Donald C. Lay, Jr., Ted H. Friend, Ron D. Randel, Cindy L. Bowers, Ken K. Grissom, Don A. Neuendorff, Omer C. Jenkins
  The influence of restricted nursing on physiological and behavioral reactions to later restraint and weaning was examined in Brahman calves. The calves were blocked for sex and randomly assigned at birth to one of two treatments: restricted nurse (RN), or ad libitum nurse (ALN). The effects of the restricted nursing regimen, which inherently includes handling, appears to alter the calf’s later response to restraint and weaning. However, due to the lack of a uniform response further research is required to determine the meaning and causal factors for this alteration.

• Preweaning Growth of F1 tropically adapted beef cattle breeds x Angus and reproductive performace of their angus dams in arid rangeland
  J.W. Holloway, B.G. Warrington, D.W. Forrest, and R.D. Randel - View PDF Abstract
  The objective of this study was to determine the preweaning performance of F1 Brahman- Senepol- and Tuli- Angus calves under semiarid south Texas conditions and to evaluate the reproductive performance of their dams. Four hundred eighty-nine records collected over four years were analyzed. The statistical model for performance traits included the effects of breed of sire, year, sex, age of dam, and breed of sire x year. Brahman F1 were heavier at every measurement and appeared to be later-maturing and more able to excel under good forage conditions than the other two F1 breed types. Angus females were observed to have a relatively low reproductive rate and high apparent fetal loss at the first and second compared with the third or later pregnancy.

• Interrelationships among growth, Endocrine, immune and temperament variables in neonatal brahman calves - View PDF Abstract
  N.C. Burdick, J.P. Banta, D.A. Neuendorff, J.C. White, R.C., Vann, J.C. Laurenz, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel
  Interrelationships among growth, endocrine, immune, and temperaments variables were assessed in neonatal Brahman calves. The velocity upon exiting a working chute (exit velocity) of an animal was measured and used as an objective indicator of temperament to classify calves as calm, intermediate, or temperamental. Calves were weighed weekly and blood samples were collected for plasma and serum to measure concentrations of immunoglobulins. During the neonatal period in this study, there was no relationship of temperament with passive immunity or stress hormone concentrations; however, growth was positively associated with passive immunity and negatively associated with stress hormones. These data can be beneficial in developing best management practices in young calves.
  

• Direct and Maternal genetic effects due to the introduction of Bos taurus alleles into brahman cattle in florida: I. Reproduction and calf survival
  T.A. Olson, M.A. Elzo, M. Koger, W.T. Butts, Jr. and E.L. Adams - View PDF Abstract
  Pregnancy rate, calf survival rate to weaning and calf age at weaning of several types of crossbred cows (2/3 or more Brahman) were compared to those of straightbred Brahman and Angus cows over a 12-year period. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of additive vs. nonadditive effects on reproductive and calf survival traits in a population of cattle whose foundation was selected on the basis of superior reproductive performance under harsh environmental conditions.

• Genetic variation and prediction of additive and nonadditive genetic effects for six carcass traits in an angus-brahman mulribreed herd
  M.A. Elzo, R.L. West, D.D. Johnson and D.L. Wakeman - View PDF Abstract
  Estimates of covariances and sire expected progeny differences of additive and nonadditive genetic effects for six carcass traits were obtained using records from 486 straightbred and crossbred steers from 121 sires in the Angus-Brahman multibreed herd of the University of Florida. Sire additive and total direct genetic predictions for longissimus muscle area, marbling, and shear force tended to decrease with the fraction of Brahman alleles, whereas those for hot carcass weight and fat thickness over the longissimus were higher, and those for kidney fat were lower in straightbreds and F-1 than in other crossbred groups. Nonadditive genetic predictions were similar across sire groups of all Angus and Brahman fractions. The results suggest that slaughtering steers on a similar carcass composition basis reduced variability of fat-related traits while retaining variability for non-fat-related traits comparable to slaughtering steers on a similar age or weight basis.

• Covariance components and prediction for additive and nonadditive preweaning growth genetic effects in an angus-brahman mulribreed herd
  M.A. Elzo and D.L. Wakeman - View PDF Abstract
  Estimates of covariances and sire expected progeny differences of additive and nonadditive direct and maternal genetic effects for birth and weaning weights were obtained using records from 1,581 straightbred and crossbred calves from the Angus-Brahman multibreed herd at the University of Florida. Sire additive and total direct and maternal genetic predictions for birth and weaning weight tended to increase with the fraction of Brahman alleles, where as non additive direct and maternal genetic predictions were similar for sires of all Angus and Brahman fractions. The results showed that it is feasible to evaluate sires for additive and non additive genetic effects in a structured multibreed population.

• Comparison of crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman in spring or fall calving systems: I. Productivity as two-year-olds
  M.N. McCarter, D.S. Buchanan and R.R. Frahm - View PDF Abstract
  Productivity of two-year-old crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman breeding was evaluated using 203 spring-calving heifers over a three year period. All heifers were mated to Limousin sires. Percentage of cows exposed to breeding that weaned a calf was the only trait for which a significant crossbred cow group x season of calving interaction was found. Weaning conformation scores were similar for all calves. Age-adjusted weaning hip height increased as proportion of Brahman breeding increased. Based on numbers of weaned calves, spring calving was more advantageous than fall calving. Averaged across both calving seasons, weaning weight tended to increase as the proportion of Brahman increased.

• Comparison of crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman in spring or fall calving systems: II. Milk Production
  M.N. McCarter, D.S. Buchanan and R.R. Frahm - View PDF Abstract
  Monthly estimates of 24 hour milk yield were obtained on 160 spring-calving and 153 fall-calving crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman breeding, all bred to Limousin sires. Milk production was measured using weigh-suckle-weigh procedures. Interactions between crossbred group and season of calving were not significant. Across seasons, milk production rarely was affected by proportion of Brahman breeding; however, milk yield, averaged over six monthly measurements, estimated 24 hour milk yeild ranged from 5.3 kg for Hereford x Angus to 6.2 kg for Brahman x Hereford cows.

• Comparison of crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman in spring or fall calving systems: III. Productivity as three-, four-, and five-year-olds
  M.N. McCarter, D.S. Buchanan and R.R. Frahm - View PDF Abstract
  Productivity of three-, four-, and five-year-old crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman breeding out of Angus or Hereford dams was evaluated using 489 spring-calving and 427 fall-calving records collected over a four-year period. Cows were bred to Limousin sires for the first three years and to Limousin and Salers sires the fourth year. Interactions between crossbred cow group and season of calving were not significant. Percentage of cows exposed to breeding that weaned a calf increased as proportion of Brahman breeding increased, was higher for cows out of Angus dams than for cows out of Hereford dams, and was higher for spring calving cows. As the proportion of Brahman increased, the percentage requiring assistance at birth decreased. Preweaning ADG, adjusted weaning weight, weaning conformation, weaning condition, and adjusted weaning hip height increased as proportion of Brahman breeding increased. The data indicates that Brahman-cross dams can be used to improve reproductive rate and increase preweaning growth rate, and thus weaning weight.

ABBA Logos for members use

We have made the following logos available to be downloaded and used by members in their ranch marketing efforts such as on farm signs, business cards, letterhead, etc. To save these files, please click on the desired image and right-click and choose "Save Image As". This will give you a high resolution file that can be used in your ranch marketing efforts. We also ask that members provide a link on their web site to the ABBA site to help spread the word about Brahman cattle. Suggested link terminology includes:

• For more information about American Brahman cattle, visit www.brahman.org.
• To join the American Brahman Breeders Association and learn more about Brahman cattle, visit www.brahman.org.
• Visit www.brahman.org for the latest Brahman news, information, and research.
  
  

FOR USE ON WEB SITES - LOW RESOLUTION FILE Right click on the above image and choose "Save Image As" to save this to your computer. Place this image on your web site with a link to www.brahman.org.	FOR USE ON WEB SITES - LOW RESOLUTION FILE Right click on the above image and choose "Save Image As" to save this to your computer. Place this image on your web site with a link to www.brahman.org.
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FOR USE IN PRINTED MATERIALS - HIGH RESOLUTION FILE Right click on the above image and choose "Save TARGET As" to save this to your computer.	FOR USE IN PRINTED MATERIALS - HIGH RESOLUTION FILE Right click on the above image and choose "Save TARGET As" to save this to your computer.

brahman popular press Articles:

- Beat the Heat and Fesque with Brahmans
- What to do with the F1 Steer
- Many Top Ranches Utilize Brahman Genetics
- Brahman: The Common Denominator
- Getting Started with Ultrasound
- Why Do I Use the Brahman F1 Cow?
- Participating in Special F1 Sales - A Guidebook for Success