- The Santa Gertrudis
Breed...
Santa Gertrudis cattle are "America's First Beef Breed." The development
of the Santa Gertrudis breed dates back to the early 1900's when the King Ranch in
Kingsville, TX recognized the inability of improved Hereford and Shorthorn cattle to produce profitably under the adverse environmental conditions of South Texas.
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- In 1910, it was decided to crossbreed the Shorthorn with Brahman,
renown for its hardiness. This mixture proved most productive.
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- In 1920, the outstanding bull calf "Monkey" was born.
Approximately 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn, he was a distinctive "cherry red" color,
docile and exceptionally deep and well-muscled. He became the foundation sire of the Santa Gertrudis breed. Through many generations his descendants
have retained the rapid and efficient growth, solid red color, hardiness, and good disposition for which "Monkey" was noted.
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- The United States Department of Agriculture recognized the Santa Gertrudis
as a distinct beef breed in 1940. On April 9, 1951, Santa Gertrudis Breeders International was incorporated, with 169 charter members,
to standardize and certify those animals designated as "purebred" and to establish rigorous controls for grading-up to purebred herds.
Today, the breed thrives in forty-four states and in eighteen other countries. Santa Gertrudis bulls are extensively used in crossbreeding
with cows of many different breeds throughout the world.