Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Santa Gertrudis cattle breed are a tropical beef cattle breed that is well known for the good quality of beef and pleasant temperaments.
They are a large breed with a deep rich red coat that has on occasion some white markings. They are a hardy breed that can withstand hot temperatures and have a good resistance to bloat and ticks.

SANTA GERTRUDIS CATTLE BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Santa Gertrudis cattle breed is a large red breed that is well known for its good quality of meat
Country of Origin:	America
Other Names:	None
Main Purpose:	Meat
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Can be used for	Breed, Meat
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Not at risk
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, Mid-Coast Santa Gertrudis Association, Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breeders of the Carolinas and Santa Gertrudis Australia
Cattle Clubs:	Please refer to the websites of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, Mid-Coast Santa Gertrudis Association, Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breeders of the Carolinas and Santa Gertrudis Australia for more information on the breed
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the websites of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, Mid-Coast Santa Gertrudis Association, Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breeders of the Carolinas and Santa Gertrudis Australia for more information on the breed
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	The Santa Gertrudis breed is known world wide for its easy temperament and high tolerance to heat and great adaptability to harsh environments. Even though the breed is defined as a tropical breed they were actually developed in Texas. The breed was properly registered by the United States authorities in 1940 making them the oldest officially registered breed in the United States of America. They are known to be fertile in the extreme heat, not get heat sicknesses due to their thick hides that also deflects most parasites. They have active sweat glands this helps them to stay cool by allowing their nutritional needs not to be too affected by extreme temperature conditions. They produce high carcass yields with low waste quantities with plenty of eye muscle. Studies have shown them to have one of the best feed conversion ratios.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The bulls of the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle are well rounded with thick necks and a hump between their shoulder blades. They are well muscled with thick power legs and a small compact type face. The cows have longer facial lines and a long more blockish type body with a bonier more angular rump area. The cow’s legs are more slender than the bulls giving them a longer appearance.

Size:

Large

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	Red and sometimes they have white markings	Red and sometimes they have white markings
Breed Weight:	600 to 850 kgs	800 to 1000 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear	Unclear
Horns:	They can have horns and there are some that are naturally polled	They can have horns and there are some that are naturally polled
Temperament:	Docile	Docile and wary. It is best to always keep a wary eye on bulls
Matures at age:	6 to 8 months or 9 + months	6 to 8 months or 9 + months
Puberty Age:	6 to 15 months	9 to 1o months
Breeding Age:	13 to 15 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Cow breeding & Milking Info	Cover 25 to 30 Cows in 1 season

COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. They are good mothers but only produce an average milk yield which is enough to feed her young. They are easy to breed and quite fertile. They are easy birthers with little to no need for assistance.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 6 to 24 hours Most ave. 12 to 16 hours Cows usually come on heat every 21 days.
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days to 24 days Heifer – usually ave. 20 days Cows – usually ave. 21 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. Cows that are carrying bull calf’s their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves.
No. Calves/Litter:	1 calf at a time. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen
Lactation Period:	Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days.
Milking From:	1 to 6 weeks after Calving
Drying off Period:	The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. Drying off period for around 60 days before she can calve again.
Milk Quality:	Good
Milk Ideal for:	Calves
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Young cattle develop a large eye muscle with little fat that usually means less waste. Their meat is tender and juicy with good carcass yields and bone to meat ratio.

Meat Production?

Yes, Quality: Good

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years

CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. As a meat breed their skin may be used for leather production as a by-product.

Skin Production?

No, Quality: Good

Skin is used to Produce:

Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc.

CATTLE ⇒	CALF	ADULT
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months for Calf skin	1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

HISTORY

The Santa Gertrudis cattle breed is a combination of the 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn. They were officially recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1940 making them the first beef breed to be formed in the United States of America.

The breed is named for the Spanish Land Grant where the King Ranch was initially established by Captain Richard King.