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    Santa Cruz

    calendar icon 29 September 2022
    clock icon 3 minute read

    History


    In 1987, the need for a more market acceptable beef animal at King Ranch, Texas, was the topic of conversation from the working pens to the board room. Top producers in the beef and livestock industry were brought in to aid in the project. Educators from the major agricultural universities across the United States were invited to share their knowledge with King Ranch.

    Photo courtesy of King Ranch Inc., www.king-ranch.com
    Twenty-six professors from fourteen universities participated in the formulation of a master breeding plan. These specialists in the various research fields which undergird progressive livestock operations, like King Ranch, included carcass and meat experts, reproduction and physiology scientists, breeds and breeding selection specialists, geneticists, nutritionists, botanists, veterinary scientists, and climatologists.

    As a result of these meetings, King Ranch set some short and long term objectives in its breeding plan. Short term objectives included improved production (reproduction and fertility); improved market acceptability (carcass quality - grade and tenderness); and, cull cattle on strict economic considerations. Long term objectives included single breed type mating system using a composite breed; genetic policy that would produce a phenotypic look-alike; and, early sexual maturity with superior carcass quality and grade. The Santa Gertrudis breed was maintained, improved, and made more competitive.

    Two breeds were selected to add to the Santa Gertrudis to achieve these goals. Gelbvieh were chosen for their fertility, high growth, early maturity, shortened gestation length, and moderate milk production. Red Angus were selected to add early fertility, ease in calving, high carcass quality, efficiency, and polled characteristics.

    The new cattle are a composite breed, produced by first crossing Santa Gertrudis cows with Red Angus and Gelbvieh bulls. This initial union produces 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Red Angus males and females; as well as 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Gelbvieh males and females. These half bloods are then crossed back on each other to produce a 1/2 Santa Gertrudis, 1/4 Red Angus and 1/4 Gelbvieh composite animal, the finished product. This is King Ranch Santa Cruz, as composites are then bred to composites, fixing the characteristics desired in the cattle and demanded by today's beef market.

    Characteristics


    The Santa Cruz can be either polled or horned. In colour, they range from a light red or honey to a Santa Gertrudis cherry red. Mature weight in cows ranges from 1100-1200 pounds, while bulls tip the scales from 1800-2000 pounds.

    The cattle have proven very heat resistant and adapt extremely well to South Texas' harsh climate and environments.

    Both females and males reach an early sexual maturity at 12-14 months of age, the females have good mothering instincts.

    Statistics


  • Excellent conformation
  • Very fertile
  • Good maternal instincts
  • Superior carass

    • Comparative


    Distribution


    Santa Cruz cattle are produced in the USA.

    References (the above information was cited from the following sites)

    www.king-ranch.com

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    Cattle grants from Government and private herds reached the Illawarra. These included Longhorn Durhams, Shorthorn Durhams, Red Lincolns, Red Ayrshires and Jerseys. However, three members of the Osborne family from Northern Ireland had, since 1829, laid the foundations of a dairy industry, and in doing so, the evolution of the breed the Australian Illawarras. The Osbornes imported the best cattle, promoted the first Agricultural Show at Wollongong and encouraged others in forming a dairy industry.

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    The Meuse Rhine Issel originates from the Netherlands and Germany. In the Netherlands, it was developed in the region of the three rivers from which it gets its name. In Germany it comes from the regions of Westfalia, Rhineland and Schleswig Holstein, and is known there as the Rotbunt.
    The last part of their name is sometimes spelled "Yssel" or "Ijssel". The Meuse Rhine Issel is also known as Rotbunt, Roodbont, Maas-Rijn-Yssel, Rotbunte holländische, Mosane-rhénane-ysseloise, Dutch Red-and-White, Red Pied Dutch, MRI and MRY.

    In 1874 the Dutch herdbook was formed and the German breed societies followed in 1900. They were run as one breeding area across the border until 1914. During the 1920's, the Dutch bull called Sjoerd 1 925 was used extensively in the Rhineland area and played a large part in establishing a good MRI type there.

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