Southeast Asia #1 Cattle Breeds

1-The Banteng (Bos javanicus and Bos sondaicus in Latin) is a wild cattle species found in Southeast Asia. The three Banteng varieties: • Tsine or Burmese banteng (Bos javanicus birmanicus) • temadau or Borneo banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) • Java banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus) Banteng vs Bali cattle - Banteng are/have: • bigger • more conspicuous sexual dimorphism • larger horns, on average • more developed withers and thoracic cresting • less developed hindquarters • white rump patch and white stockings • cows that are yellow to brownish-yellow • bulls that are also reddish-brown turning black/brown with maturity As of 2017 in the DAD-IS database: • Banteng are reported by three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand. • Indonesia has the highest population. Urban growth, along with hunting, habitat destruction and wars have made their numbers very small and led to protection in most places. Like the Gaur, the Banteng have impressive profiles with deep dewlaps and elongated crests over their withers and thoracic spine. Instead of fighting head to head, they usually just posture to see who is bigger; the smaller one then backs off. Older Banteng bulls have pebbled skin between their horns (which can get quite large). Females look like deer. The white rump patch is known as the ‘mirror’. Banteng are shy. As a breed they are highly productive. Bulls join herds of females only during rutting season. Banteng also adapt favorably to minimum pasture and fodder conditions. The Banteng belongs to the Bibovine cattle group. Bibovine refers to several species of large Southeast Asian wild cattle that are closely related to common cattle. 2-The Swamp buffalo has crescentic horns – meaning they are shaped in a single curve, like a crescent moon. The Swamp buffalo's head is sometimes used in ritual ceremonies at the start of construction of new buildings in Indonesia. Their horns are also used by Javan artisans in the making of handicrafts. Note: Buffalo are not developed by deliberate selection the way cattle are. However despite this, buffalo are very important worldwide for their contribution as a domestic animal both for work, meat and milk production. In zoological classification buffalo remain a separate species from common cattle. Bison also share common base characteristics (i.e. even-toed ungulate ruminants) and branch off in genus (which falls below family and above species) from common cattle and yak. 3-The Tsine (aka Burmese Banteng; Bos javanicus birmanicus in Latin) is a variety of the Banteng. Tsine bulls are a light fawn color with a white to grey face. As of 2017 in the DAD-IS database, Tsine are reported by three countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand. However, no population figures are given. 4-The kouprey (Bos sauveli, from Khmer: គោព្រៃ, Khmer pronunciation: [koː prɨj], "forest ox"; also known as kouproh, "grey ox"), is a little-known, forest-dwelling, wild bovine species from Southeast Asia. A young male was sent to the Vincennes Zoo in 1937 where it was described by the French zoologist Achille Urbain and was declared the holotype. The kouprey has a tall, narrow body, long legs, a humped back and long horns. Kouprey at Vincennes Zoo in Paris by Georges Broihanne 1937 The young male kouprey at the Vincennes Zoo, Paris 1937 that was designated the holotype of the species. The horns are not yet fully developed. Conservation status Critically endangered, possibly extinct Scientific classification e Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Bos Species: B. sauveli Binomial name Bos sauveli Urbain, 1937 Bos sauveli distribution.svg Geographic range Synonyms Bibos sauveli (Urbain, 1937) Novibos sauveli (Coolidge, 1940) Kouprey form small herds led by a female, and graze on grasses, feeding in the forest during the day and in the open at night. They are affected by degradation of their habitat and are hunted for their meat, horns and skull. There are thought to be few, if any, kouprey left in existence. The last confirmed sighting was in 1983. Since then, surveys have been done to try to locate the species but all have failed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the species as "critically endangered", but it may already be extinct