Madura cattle

Summary

Madura cattle or Madurese cattle (Indonesian: Sapi madura) are a stable, inbred hybrid of Zebu and Banteng (Bos javanicus).[1][2] They originated from the island of Madura just northeast of Java, in Indonesia where the original cattle population was the wild Banteng, very similar to Balinese cattle. Sinhala cattle, a Zebu breed from Sri Lanka, were introduced more than 1500 years ago, and the crossbreeds between the two was found to be better in body size than either of the original breeds. Some sources say the Zebu component was Ongole Cattle from India.[3] The coloration is reddish brown with non-specific white patterning on the back and rump. They are a small breed, bulls having a mature weight of 250 to 300 kg,[4] it is used for racing by the locals[5] and are sometimes called the dancing cattle. In 2002 the population was estimated by the FAO at 900,000. Efforts are being made to conserve the breed on Sapudi island.[6]

Pair of Madurese Cattles

Madurese bull racing edit

In bull racing two bulls are yoked together, pulling a small sled on which the driver attempts to balance over a hundred-metre course.

References edit

  1. ^ Heredity (2003-09-24). "Paternally inherited markers in bovine hybrid populations". Nature.com. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  2. ^ Popescu, C.P; Smith, W.G (1988). "A Cytogenetic Investigation of Madura Cattle". Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 23 (3). Blackwell-synergy.com: 145. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.1988.tb01092.x.
  3. ^ "Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations report p4" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  4. ^ Thorbecke, Erik; Pluijm, Theodore Van Der (1993). Rural Indonesia: Socio-economic Development in a Changing Environment By Erik Thorbecke, Theodore van der Pluijm. ISBN 9780814781975. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  5. ^ "Bull racing on Madura". Indonesialogue.com. 2007-04-11. Archived from the original on 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  6. ^ "Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations report p25" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2013-07-11.