Humped domestic cattle that originated in South Asia, with a fatty hump over the shoulders, a large dewlap and often drooping ears. Well adapted to heat and drought, they are raised throughout the tropics for draught work, milk, beef, hides and dung.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?Yes
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?Sometimes
Small breeds such as the miniature zebu are kept as pets.
Do people eat it?Yes
Raised for beef across the tropics; zebu breeds make up most of Brazil's beef cattle.
At a glance
Found inAsia, Africa, South America, Madagascar
HabitatFarmland, Grassland
ColoursGrey, White, Brown
SizeHuge
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives inherds
Lives for15–20 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Throughout the tropics: South Asia, China, Africa and Madagascar, and in large numbers in Brazil.
- What it eats
- Grazes on grasses; it thrives on poor-quality forage.
Did you know
The humped cattle of South Asia, much better at coping with heat and drought than European breeds.
In Madagascar, zebu outnumber people.
It was domesticated from the Indian aurochs 6,000–7,000 years ago at Mehrgarh, in what is now Pakistan.
Often confused with
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