Similar English Longhorn, American Milking Devon, Randall cattle, Alderney cattle, Amerifax | ||
The American is a breed of cattle originating in the United States and known for its heritage as an American Bison hybrid. It was developed in the 1950s by a New Mexico rancher looking for beef cattle which could survive on poor fodder in the arid Southwest.
Today the American is one of only a few pure breeds with any known Bison genetics, with the more well-known breed being the Beefalo. Art Jones, the original breeder, began by crossing Hereford, Shorthorn and Charolais, and later added extensive crosses with Brahman cattle and Bison. Today all individuals of this rare breed display the genetic marker for Bison ancestry. American cattle are varying in appearance, though nearly all display the floppy Brahman ears, slight humps, and many have horns.