El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-01

ueHs, uHOer the name OF SacIeu COW,
or sacred bull of India. The speci.
small breeds, standing three feet high
and weighing only about ESQ pounds
But the types selected for importation
under government auspices, were SIX
feet high, and weighed up to 1850
pounds.
Zebus-otherwise known as "Brahman
cattle"-are distinguished by a large
hump on the withers, long hanging
ears, short horns pointing backward,
narrow hips, tepefing legs, and mild,
sleepy eyes. In color they are most
often light silver gray. The pure white
specimens, which are albinos, are the
sacred bulls" of India, which play an
important part in religious festivals.
to have charmed life. TheE venerate
it, and hold its slaughter to be sin.
1t is extensively employed as a beast of
burden, as well as for riding and driv-
ing. The hump is the most delicate part
for food, and is especially delicious when
prepared in pickle. like tongue.
Mixing Zebus With Cattle.
The principal object in fetching this
interesting beast to the United States
was to cross it with our native cattle,
in order to obtain, if possible, a hybrid
proof against the Texas fever which
causes such great losses in the south
Whether the experiment will be success
ful or not remains to be seen. The dis
ease in question is carried by ticks; but
the insects do not attack the zebu-
possibly because its hide is tougher than
that of our cattle, but also, as is sur
missed, for the reason that an oily secre-
ton of the skin is obnoxious to the tick.
t1fty-one zebus were purchased in
India and brought by way of Hamburg
TO New York, where they were trans
ferred from the steamer TO a large
barge with the help of a cage and der
rick. The barge was then lowed to
Simonson's Island flor quarantine),
where corral 100 feet square had been
provided, partly rooted with tarpauIn.
The object of this precaution was to
avoid the risk of Introducing "surra"-
p wasting disease very fatal to cattle,
horses, and other domestic animals in
the Orient. 1t is caused by an eel-like'
animal organism in the blood, and is
carried by biting flies.
Tests, made by taking blood from the
ears of the zebus and inoculating rab-
bits with it, proved that three of the
parasite of the maladv being found in
the blood of the rabbits. These were
killed, and their bodies were burned;
put in the meantime horse-flies and
stable flies had carried the disease to
several other beasts The only chance
II saving any out of the herd was taken
" building a stable with an individual
ly-prOof stall for each animal. As a
esult. 80 were preserved from infection,
md finally were released from quaran-
inc and taken to Texas
More or less has already been said in
'rint about the efforts which the gov
is making to cross the zebra
With the horse or the ass Expert.
uently been tried during the last few |
ears in other countries. But the work |
f the bureau of animal industry differs !
rom that done elsewhere in the fact |
hat the largest type Of zebra is used
amely the Grevy zebra. which is as big |
s goodsized horse and quite different !
rom the little fellows of pony dimeD- |
ions commonly seen in circus parades
Col Roosevelt's Zebra.
When Col. Roosevelt was in the white .
ouse. he received from the king of (
Ibyssinia a gift of a magnificent Grevy |
ebra, which is now leading life of |
luxurious idleness az the agricultural ex- /
eminent station at Bethesda, Nd Since |
hen half dozen others of the same
pecies have been obtained. and of these |
ne male and one female survive today. |
,leven zebra-ass hybrids have been
oaled (all of them the offspring of the !
roosevelt specimen and a female jack
ss1, and six of them, two colts and
our filfies, are now alive and vigorous.
they are as hardy as
onkeys. and endure the climate quite as
ell. The Roosevelt zebra weighs 500
ounds. and is 13 Ii hands high.
These zebra asses have a neat, clean
ut appearance. and are as easily
andled as horse foa-ls of the same age.
When they have reached the breeding
&c, they will be tested for fertility
'nong themselves, and also with horses,
ebras, and asses. It is earnestly hoped
hat they will prove fertile-the most
nportant idea in view being to cross
hem with the horse. If this can be
ocomplished, and the offspring are
themselves able to produce young, a
'nrbination will have been effected of
lree animals, namely the zebra, the
0rse, and the ass. The beast thus pro-
need could be bred so as to combine in
self the most desirable characteristics
all three; and, whereas it is not pos
bic to improve mules (save by modify
g the horse and the asst, the zebra
orse- ass, once recognized as a distinct
lriety of creature, might be bettered
selection and iudicious mating to an
most indefinite extent.
Rheas in Captivity.
In addition to the 1900 ostriches of
frican origin already mentioned as
in the Argentine, there are
Nv in that country 100000 rheas breed
e in captivity-the latter species be-
g commonly, though not very correctly,
1own as the American ostrich. The
lea is stable bird, standing about
rec feet high, and furnishes valuable
athers. There is good reason to be-
I'VE that it could be introduced sue
in the United States, and that
might be bred here TO great advantage
T its feathers. The idea, at all events.
ems well worth a trial.
Rene Bache
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