The first imports of Brahman cattle date back
to 1941. They come from USA - where the breed originated and were taken to the
north of the province of Santa Fe. Since then, progress minded producers in subtropical
areas started incorporating Brahman blood into their herds, via Artificial Insemination
and Breeding Stock. Since 1958, these could be purchased in the cattle shows sponsored by
the Association in its premises at Gobernador Virasoro in the province of Corrientes, in
the NE of Argentina.
Toughness, precocity, adaptation to a subtropical climate are some of the assets
contributed by Brahman to Argentine cattle rearing. They helped solving serious drawbacks
encountered by ranches which had tried to rear exclusively British breed herds in barren
regions. They had experienced windling returns caused by a bitter climate and infectious
and parasitic diseases. Cattle tick, in particular, caused low rebreeding rates and high
calf mortality.
The outstanding adaptation and toughness brought dramatic changes in the bottom line since
rebreeding rates rose from 50% to 75% in the main non Pampas breeding zones.
Main
characteristics: Contrary to the centuries old tendencies of Zebú cattle, Brahman has been
working for almost one hundred years on specific selection.
As for its use in crossbreeding, it has
become an precious tool for the production of steers for various purposes. Its meat is
highly appreciated in the five continents.
Brahman has become so essential in the tropics that many British and Continental breeds
have been "adapted" to such zones by incorporating a relevant percentage of
Brahman blood. Synthetic breeds have resulted from such crossings: Brangus - Braford -
SimBrah - ChaBray - BeefMaster. These are but a few examples of Brahman popularity. The
National Agricultural Survey ’93 calculated that 22-25% of Argentine cattle
have Brahman blood running in their veins. The Asociación Criadores Brahman Argentina
(ex-Cebú) (ACBA - Argentine Brahman Breeders Association (old Zebu)), founded under the
motto "more beef at a lower cost", numbers over 13,000 Brahman cows in its Herd
Books and those of the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA).
In 1987 an agreement was signed with INTA aimed at developing a National Programme for
Evaluating Breading Stock -PRONER- in order to obtain EPD’s, which has become an
essential tool for selection. In 1997 it joined the Argentine Brangus Association and the
Chamber of Beef Producers in signing an agreement with the School of Agricultural Science
and Food Technology of the Catholic University in Argentina for technological exchange and
moving the site of several branches.
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