The American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) was organized in 1924. J.W. Sartwelle of Houston was the first recording secretary of the Association and it was he who proposed the word "Brahman" and so it was adopted as the name of the new beef breed.

The breed originated from from a nucleus of approximately 266 bulls and 22 females of several Bos indicus (cattle of India) types imported into the United States between 1854 and 1926. Today the Brahman breed has achieved acceptance for their environmental adaptivity, longevity, mothering ability and efficient beef production.

A brief history of Brahman cattle....
As the first beef breed developed in the United States, the American Brahman has played an important role in crossbreeding programs and has become a common thread among other American breeds developed in the last century.

With strict selection, guided by the standard of excellence developed by founding breeders, the American Brahman has been recognized for its exceptional hardiness and physical stamina, its ability to profitably produce on marginal lands, to live twice as long as normally expected, with unequaled performance in weight per day of age.

Convenience Traits

Brahman cattle can withstand temperature extremes, and have special immunities and characteristics which make them resistant to many diseases and insects. Recognized for their intelligence, Brahmans are very responsive to kindness and are quite gentle when handled properly. Pinkeye, a costly eye disease caused by one or more infectious organisms, is rarely, if ever, a problem among Brahman cattle. They are also highly resistant to Anaplasmosis in part due to their resistance to insects.

Their short, thick hair coat and skin texture prevents penetration by many insects and blood sucking pests. In addition, Brahmans and Brahman crosses have a well developed subcutaneous muscle layer which enables them to dislodge many insects by shaking their skin. They also secrete sebum, an oily substance, from their skin, which is effective in repelling insects.

A trait usually overlooked by many, but extremely important in terms of productive efficiency, is longevity. The Brahman is unequalled in length of productive life, generally producing up to 50 percent longer than European and British breeds. While many cattlemen generally replace females of other breeds at ten years of age, it is not unusual to find terms of productive Brahman and Brahman cross females leading very productive lives at 15 years and older. The service life of a Brahman bull is generally much longer than bulls of other beef breeds. .

Of great importance to the economics of raising Brahman and Brahman cross cattle is their ability to reproduce under extremely high temperatures, when the reproductive efficiency of other breeds fail.

Brahman and Brahman cross cows are also recognized as excellent mother cows. They produce large supplies of milk, even in hot, humid environments and they have very good mothering instincts, staying with their calves and protecting them from predators.

Brahmans are also known for their freedom of movement and ability to travel even in rough terrain, possessing unparallelled structural soundness. Their ability to travel is an important factor when considering the Brahmans' unexcelled capability to thrive under adverse conditions, because of their hardiness, thriftiness and rustling proficiency. They surpass all other breeds under conditions of poor range and drought.

Breed Characteristics

Brahman cattle may vary in color depending on the goals of the cattlemen who breed them. At V8 we have a range of colors in our cattle, from snow white or "gray" colored to almost solid black or "blue" pigment. Acceptable colors are light gray or red to almost black. Average Brahman bulls will weigh from 1,600 to 2,200 pounds and cows from 1,000 to 1,400 pounds. Purebred calves are small to moderate at birth. It is documented that Brahman and Brahman cross females calve easily. Brahmans are recognized for intelligence and desired disposition. They are very responsive to kindness and are quite gentle when handled properly.

Association Involvement
The best way to learn about the breed is to get involved with the American Brahman Breeders Association or your state breed association affiliate. Visit the ABBA web site at www.brahman.org.