; Bos indicus or Bos taurus indicus), often known as indicine cattle or humped cow, is a domestic cattle species or subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent. Zebu have a fatty hump on their shoulders, a huge dewlap, and occasionally droopy ears. They are adaptable to high temperatures and are cultivated in tropical climates as pure zebu and hybrids with taurine cattle, the second important kind of domestic cattle. Zebu are utilized as draught and riding animals, dairy and meat cattle, and byproducts such hides and dung for fuel and manure. Some small breeds, like the miniature zebu, are kept as pets. Texas A&M University researchers successfully cloned a zebu in 1999.
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What is the significance of Bos indicus?
Bos Indicus Cattle (Zebus) are a species of domestic cattle that originated in South Asia. They are also known as humped cattle or Brahman cattle. Bos Indicus Cattle (Zebus) are a species of domestic cattle that originated in South Asia. They are also known as humped cattle or Brahman cattle.
How do you know whether it’s a Bos indicus?
Bos Indicus cattle are Asian cattle with a bigger frame and longer legs that allow them to quickly cover huge and sparse regions of land in search of food and water. Great foragers, they can adapt to tough drought conditions, making them a natural choice for humid, tropical environments like Northern Australia. Cattle ticks and other parasites are repelled by their smooth, short-haired coats and naturally occurring sweat chemicals. When they swat insects, some Bos Indicus breeds create a substance in their tails that acts as an insect repellant. A hump across the shoulders on the back of cattle with Bos Indicus ancestry can be identified. This is where fat is stored for bad times, similar to a camel. They also have huge floppy ears and a dewlap to keep themselves cool. Brahman, Droughtmaster, Santa Gertrudis, Brangus, and Braford are examples of common Bos Indicus breeds.
Is Brangus a Bos taurus species?
Crossbreeding between subspecies (Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus) is commonly used in cattle breeding to create composite breeds like Brangus. Certain composite breeds allow researchers to examine the genomic content of these regions of the genome and uncover recent selection signatures established in the new population. We initially detected runs of homozygozity (ROH) and computed genomic inbreeding using high-density genotyping. Using a chromosomal painting approach, we then assessed the genetic content of the regions indicated as selected (selective sweeps). After composite breed formation, genomic inbreeding rose by around 1% every generation, demonstrating the necessity for inbreeding management even in composite breeds. Angus selection signals were also discovered in three Brangus locations. In Brangus and both founder breeds, two areas (chromosomes 14 and 21) have been identified as selection signatures. Five of Brangus’ ten homozygous regions were largely Angus in origin (probability >80%), while the other five had a mixed origin, with Brahman contributing less than 50% of the time. Drift, selection, and complementarity are likely altering the genetic composition of founder breeds in certain genomic areas. These findings point to a number of ways to improve selection control and investigate heterosis and complementarity at the genome level in composite breeds.
What distinguishes a Bos taurus from other dogs?
B. taurus is a social mammal that lives in herds of 24-52 individuals on average (Jesse 2002). Herding behavior provided benefits in the wild, such as improved safety from predators and opportunities for mating, but it is mostly a product of domestication and human management in modern herds.