Santa Gertrudis are considered to be America's first beef
breed. They were developed on King Ranch to function in hot, humid, and
unfavorable environments. They were developed by crossing Indian Brahman cattle
with British Shorthorns. In 1920, years of experimentation culminated with the
birth of Monkey, a deep red bull calf. Monkey became the foundation sire for
not just a superior line of cattle, but an entirely new breed. In 1940, Santa
Gertrudis was recognized by the U.S.
Santa Gertrudis cattle are approximately five-eighths
Shorthorn and three-eighths Brahman. They are a deep cherry-red color with a
relatively high degree of both heat and tick resistance. Santa Gertrudis
females are known for their exceptional maternal traits. Their characteristics
include ease of calving, good mothering ability and abundant milk supply.
About Santa Gertrudis Cattle
