Family

• Bovidae

Lifespan

• 16-18 years

Size

• Length: 34-42 inches high at the withers (highest part of the back at the base of the neck)
• Weight: Cows (females) weigh 300-500 pounds and bulls (males) weigh 400-600

Origin

• Southern Asia and India

Habitat

• Deserts and forests

Lifestyle

• Herbivore

Diet

• Wild: Fresh and dry grasses and grains
• Zoo: Timothy hay and grain

Reproduction

• Zebu reach maturity slowly, and rather late
• A single offspring is born every year after gestation of 277-290 days
• Calves are generally 12-20 lbs at birth and are weaned at 50 lbs

Unique Characteristics

• Zebus have a heavy dewlap (fold of loose skin) and a hump above the withers that is composed of muscle and fat
  • It is actually a functionless, enlarged rhomboid muscle
• They also have short horns

Special Adaptations

• They are highly resistant to heat and disease
  • Zebus have built in muscles that allow better twitching of the skin to protect from insect bites
  • They even have a gland beneath the skin that secretes an oily, odorous substance that repels some insects

The Ruminant Way

• Zebus are ruminants, meaning their digestive system is unique
• Zebus, and other cattle, have a 4 chambered stomach for digesting food
  • The first three chambers have bacteria that help break down tough plant matter 
    
  • In the second chamber, the food forms a ball called ‘cud’, which is then chewed again
  • When swallowed again, it passes through the third and fourth chambers
  • This process allows them to absorb maximum nutrients from their food

Zebu &Humans

• Zebu are the world’s oldest domesticated cattle, dating back to 3000 B.C., and were first introduced to the U.S. in 1849
• They have fair to poor milk and meat production, but are excellent draft animals
  • This was their original purpose in the cotton plantations of the south
• In India, the Hindus revere the zebu and protect it from harm

Conservation Status

• IUCN: Not Evaluated
• CITES:Not Listed
• Although domestic cattle are not threatened, there are 5 Bovid species which are in need of protections:
• Bos gaurus (Gaur)
• IUCN: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• Found in India, China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia
• Bos javanicus (Banteng)
• IUCN: Endangered
• CITES: Not Listed
• Found in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and sporadically in Indonesia.  Small population introduced to Australia
• Bos mutus (Wild Yak)
• IUCN: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• Found in China.  Historically found in China and India.  Believed to be extinct in all countries except China
• Bos sauveli (Grey Ox/Kouprey)
• IUCN: Critically Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Found in Cambodia and southern Laos
• Bubalus arnee (Indian Water Buffalo)
• IUCN: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix III
• Found in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia; all extremely fragmented

Sources

1. CITES Appendices. Accessed December 2012. www.cites.org
2. IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Accessed December 2012. www.iucnredlist.org