Nelore
Encyclopedia
Nelore or Nellore beef cattle
originated from Ongole (Bos indicus) cattle originally brought to Brazil
from India
. They are named for the district of Nellore
in Andhra Pradesh
. The Nelore has a distinct large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck. They have long legs which help them to walk in water and when grazing. The Nelore can adapt to all except very cold climates. They are very resistant to high temperatures and have natural resistance to various parasites and diseases. Brazil is the largest breeder of Nelore. Nelore have the shortest ears of most Bos indicus
types. There is a naturally polled strain of the breed.
Zoo by Manoel Ubelhart Lemgruber from Rio de Janeiro in 1878. The most recent importations from India were of one hundred animals in the 1960s. The Nelore herd book was founded in 1875.
In the first decades of twentieth century, the favored breed of zebu
in Brazil
was the indubrasil or Indo-Brazilian
. From the 1960 onwards, Nelore became the primary breed of beef cattle
in Brazil because it is hardy, heat-resistant, thrives on poor-quality forage, and breeds easily, with the calves rarely requiring human intervention to survive. Currently more than 80% of beef cattle
in Brazil (approximately 100,000,000 animals) are either purebred or hybrid Nelore, making them the majority breed in Brazil. Bulls of this breed have been exported to many other countries in the Western Hemisphere, such as United States
and Venezuela
in the last decades.
, Taj Mahal, Golias, Godhavari, Rastan, Akasamu and Padhu(4).
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
originated from Ongole (Bos indicus) cattle originally brought to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are named for the district of Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The Nelore has a distinct large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck. They have long legs which help them to walk in water and when grazing. The Nelore can adapt to all except very cold climates. They are very resistant to high temperatures and have natural resistance to various parasites and diseases. Brazil is the largest breeder of Nelore. Nelore have the shortest ears of most Bos indicus
Zebu
Zebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
types. There is a naturally polled strain of the breed.
Breed history
The first pair of Ongole cattle arrived in Brazil in 1868 when they were bought from a ship at Salvador, Bahia. Two more were bought from HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
Zoo by Manoel Ubelhart Lemgruber from Rio de Janeiro in 1878. The most recent importations from India were of one hundred animals in the 1960s. The Nelore herd book was founded in 1875.
In the first decades of twentieth century, the favored breed of zebu
Zebu
Zebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
was the indubrasil or Indo-Brazilian
Indo-Brazilian
Indo-Brazilian cattle are a Zebu beef breed developed in Brazil from Gir, Kankrej and Ongole cattle brought from India. While this is nearly the same mixture which produced the American Brahman, the two breeds differ in appearance, with the Indo-Brazilian having much longer ears which hang down...
. From the 1960 onwards, Nelore became the primary breed of beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
in Brazil because it is hardy, heat-resistant, thrives on poor-quality forage, and breeds easily, with the calves rarely requiring human intervention to survive. Currently more than 80% of beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
in Brazil (approximately 100,000,000 animals) are either purebred or hybrid Nelore, making them the majority breed in Brazil. Bulls of this breed have been exported to many other countries in the Western Hemisphere, such as United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in the last decades.
Main lineages in Brazil
The vast majority of Nelores created today comes from lineages that entered Brazil in the 1950s and 60's. These lineages are: KarvardiKarvardi
Karvadi was a nelore cattle bull. While still alive, it became famous as the champion bull of nelore in all the world. It came to Brazil in 1963 and was imported from India. There's just ten semen samples of this animal, in the world. The last sell of this semen costs US$15,000 each one. Karvadi...
, Taj Mahal, Golias, Godhavari, Rastan, Akasamu and Padhu(4).
External links
- Nelore Cattle-Cattle Today
- (1) ABCZ >Site of official association, with photos of this race. In Portuguese.
- (2) Site in English
- (3) Short site in English
- (4) Site in portuguese
- (5) FAO site