...with a Moo Moo here

When you hear or read "Texas", what do you associate with it? Cowboys? [not the football team] Oil? Perhaps Dallas, Houston, or the massive Universities and medical research? Or cattle? At one time, before oil was discovered, cattle was the largest industry in the state's history. Of course, my post isn't about oil, population or universities...it's about cattle. I seem to like best animals with shades of gray! My favorite horse is the dappled gray, I love cats with gray or silver coats, and that doesn't leave out cattle. My favorite breed of cattle is the Brahma [or Zebu, or Brahman]. A couple of weeks ago, while out hunting for the elusive Whooping Crane, as we strolled around the fenced in pasture, there were Brahma cattle compounded within. I, naturally, had to photograph the papa grandé!! He was magnificent in stature, color, and so picturesque. But, this I did not know. I asked Bud, who has raised cattle when younger and single, I asked him if he knew how the breed got started and where...he said he thought somewhere in Asia. Well, he was right. In fact, the Zebu originated in India. They've been exported to the subtropical areas and deserts around the world...mainly 'cause they can withstand the extreme temperate zones best of any other breed. Also, reading wikipedia, the cattle that roamed the Indian fields, are the ORIGINAL breed of cattle known to man. All other species of cattle have the Brahma DNA. Anyway, the prominent fatty hump on the UPPER * part of the shoulders, their floppy ears, and the huge dewlap are what make this particular breed so beautiful to me...not to mention the dark, charcoal colors against the slate gray hide. In my opinion, they're the prettiest [if a particular cattle can be pretty] of all. While reading the information, the Brahma is bred for the hides, the milk, the beef, as well as the by-products, for fuel and I'm sure horns...tho some are naturally born polled [without horns]. In Asia, they're still used as a labor source in farming. At one time in history they roamed the land, wild. The cow, I'm assuming the bull's mate, wasn't too far a distance from where we stood. I also read while out on wikipedia, that the Brahma could also have a red coat/hide. This I didn't know either. When someone mentions Brahma to me, I naturally assume...gray! Well, now, you live and learn. The cow in the field on this particular day was of the red coloration. There were some calves, scattered here and there, roaming around among several other adult cattle of mixed breeds, one calf in particular was quite interested in my camera and walked right up to the fence line; quite curious. I had to get a photo of the sweet, sweet, face peering through the wire. So so very precious and cute little bugger!! And 99% of the time, where there are cattle grazing there always seems to be a vulture or two. Either seen soaring high above, or traipsing around in the grasses, looking for a food source...

the one with the gray face is a Black Vulture, the one with the red face is a Turkey Vulture

Oh, and if you've continued reading to this part of the post, today is the day I have posted the endangered Whooping Crane Photos on my Bird Photo Blog!!! [the link is found on my sidebar "I'd Rather B Birdin'" or connecting to the "Bird D'Pot" link below -posting time scheduled to publish at NOON CST] Tho the photos are not that clear because of the distance between me and the birds as they meandered thought the fields, I still wanted to keep a record. Also, if all goes well, Bud and I plan to return to the area the beginning of next month in hopes they'll still be there before the Spring migration begins and they return to Canada for the Summer. And hopefully the new camera with larger zoom will take much clearer, better photos of them....

connecting to:

Saturday Photo Hunt [challenge - upper *as in upper shoulder & upper views of the vultures]

Camera Critters

The Bird D'Pot