Beefalo

Origin

Accidental crossings are mentioned since 1750. The first tests of directed hybridization date from the Années 1800. This test without continuations was called cattalo . (contraction of cattle and buffalo) In 1888, Charles, Jessie, " buffalo" Jones, frightened by the thousands of bovines deaths of cold during a blizzard will again test the hybridization of the two species with an aim of creating a domestic race able to resist in the open air the hardest climatic conditions of the west. The various attempts posed problems of fertility. Their low profitability because the abandonment of the tests.

In 1965, the attempt at crossing was taken again and crowned success. The females are fertile. The success of this crossing encouraged the obtenteurs has to change the name of this crossing, in order to differentiate it from that related to the old failures. One thus does not speak any more a cattalo , but of beefalo .

Morphology

Its massive silhouette points out the bison. Its legs are relatively short, and the garrot is higher than the rear-axle unit. Short peeling, on the other hand, points out the origin of domestic ox. The color is variable according to the bovine parents used.

Aptitude

It is high only for its value bouchère. Its not very fatty meat contains few Cholestérol. Its meat is thus appraisal and expensive on the market, arousing the interest of the stockbreeders.
La race preserved the assets which governed its creation: resistance to the hard climate, aptitude for developing poor pastures well the winter and aptitude has to take again its weight after one period of food shortage. Of its European parents, it kept the speed of growth and a greater facility to be handled.

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