Santa Gertrudis Research Paper

The Santa Gertrudis is a composite breed of cattle, consisting of 5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman, which was developed on the King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas. The breed is characterized by their deep red cherry color, sometimes displaying white or cream colors on their underline. Their coats are short and slick. They have moderate to long ears and bulls display a slight hump at the shoulders. This breed can be horned or polled. Santa Gertrudis are considered a Bos Indicus breed, or more commonly, they are referred to as an American breed because of the presence of Brahman genetics. American breeds are known for their heat tolerance and resistance to insects and disease. Santa Gertrudis can survive in a range of habitats across the globe. Primary habitats may include terrestrial biomes such as deserts, grasslands, chaparral, and forests. Habitats, however, must be able to support cattle by providing sufficient water and food sources. Santa Gertrudis do not have specific wintering or breeding habitats; in most cases, cattle are raised on a ranch, where they will spend much of there lives before being sold either to another ranch or a feedlot operation. Habitat needs of Santa Gertrudis are pretty basic, revolving mainly around food and shelter. Cattle consume as much as 20 gallons of water a day, so either a natural or artificial means of …show more content…
Native species of grasses that cattle prefer can differ per region, however, common species in Texas may include big and little bluestem, sideoats grama and other grama species, eastern gama grass, and many more. Santa Gertrudis also consume forbs such as sunflowers, Engelmann daisy, and prairie coneflower. Commonly cultivated forages may include fescues, legumes, bermudagrass, grains such as oats and wheat, sudangrass, millet, and rye