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EveryCow

Composite breeds

Modern breeds crossed from two or more: Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Bonsmara, Droughtmaster and Karan Fries.

Pied: a coat in large patches of two colours, usually black and white or red and white, as in the Holstein Friesian.

Composite breeds are modern breeds made by crossing two or more established breeds and then breeding the result into a stable type. Most were built in the twentieth century to put European yield or meat together with zebu or sanga hardiness. The Santa Gertrudis of Texas, Brangus, Beefmaster, Bonsmara of South Africa and Droughtmaster of Australia are beef composites. On the dairy side, India's Karan Fries and Frieswal, Brazil's Girolando, the Australian Milking Zebu and the Jamaica Hope bring Indian zebu and European dairy breeds together.

How a composite is made

A breeder starts by crossing two or more parent breeds, then mates the crossbred animals with each other over several generations, selecting hard for the type they want. Fixed fractions are common: a breed might aim for three-eighths Brahman and five-eighths Angus, as the Brangus does. When the type breeds true enough, a breed society is formed with a herd book. Composites keep some of the vigour of a first cross without needing to keep both parent breeds.

Beef composites

The Santa Gertrudis was developed on the King Ranch in Texas from Brahman and Shorthorn cattle and was recognised in 1940 as a breed. The Brangus combines Brahman and Angus, and the Beefmaster was built on Brahman, Hereford and Shorthorn. In South Africa, Jan Bonsma's work produced the Bonsmara from Afrikaner, Hereford and Shorthorn. In Australia, the Droughtmaster comes from Brahman and Shorthorn. All aim at beef cattle that do well in heat.

Dairy composites and India

India has bred its own composites for the tropics. The Karan Fries, developed at the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, crosses Tharparkar with Holstein Friesian, and the Karan Swiss uses Brown Swiss. The Frieswal combines Holstein Friesian and Sahiwal. Elsewhere, Brazil's Girolando crosses Gir and Holstein, the Australian Milking Zebu was bred from Sahiwal and Red Sindhi with Jersey, and the Jamaica Hope is mostly Jersey with Sahiwal blood.

Worth knowing

  • Santa Gertrudis: Red Texas breed from Brahman and Shorthorn
  • Brangus: Black polled breed of Brahman and Angus
  • Bonsmara: South African beef breed built on the Afrikaner
  • Droughtmaster: Australian Brahman and Shorthorn breed
  • Girolando: Brazilian dairy cross of Gir and Holstein
  • Frieswal: Indian dairy composite of Holstein Friesian and Sahiwal
  • Australian Milking Zebu: Tropical dairy breed from Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Jersey
  • Jamaica Hope: Jamaican dairy breed of Jersey with Sahiwal

Good to know

  • A composite needs a breed society and records to stay a breed; without them it drifts back into crossbreds.
  • Match the composite to the climate: the zebu share is what carries heat and tick tolerance.

Sources and further reading

About this page

Original text by the EveryCow desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Customs are described as tradition, not as advice. If we have something wrong, tell us.

Composite on EveryCow

The breeds written up so far, best known first.

PurposeDairyBeefDraughtDual-purposeTriple-purposeSportCeremonialGrazingHeritageMiniature
TraitHeat-tolerantCold-hardyDrought-hardyDisease-resistantThrifty foragersDocileSpiritedQuick and strongPolledLong-hornedRich milkMarbled beefLong-livedEasy calving
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSenepol A polled red beef breed from St Croix, built for heat and insectsTaurine · Beef · Heat-tolerant

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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