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To understand the development and the purpose of Santa Gertrudis cattle it is important to look at their beginning. The were developed on the King Ranch in deep South Texas on rough, rugged country where it was tough for man or animal to survive. The land was thick with thorn covered brush and the climate was very hot and dry. In 1853 Captain Richard King settled on a Spanish land grant called Santa Gertrudis. He stocked the ranch with Longhorn cattle. The Longhorn was a hardy animal but it did not produce tender, flavorable meat or very much of it. Purebred Shorthorn and Herford cattle had a better quality meat but could not adapt to the harsh enviroment of South Texas. In 1910 it was decided to crossbreed with Brahman cattle from India. In 1920 a bull named Monkey was born on the King Ranch. Monkey was 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn, he was to become the foundation sire of the Santa Gertrudis breed. Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and brother Richard M.Kleberg, Sr., grandson of Captain King, are credited with the development of the breed. In 1940 the United States Department of Agriculture recognized Santa Gertrudis as the first breed of beef cattle developed in the western hemisphere. Santa Gertrudis Breeders International was formed in 1951 as the official breed registry. The Arkoma Santa Gertrudis Assoc. established in 1953 has evolved through the years, but one thing that has remained the same is the production of quality beef animals-America's First Beef Breed, "Santa Gertrudis". |
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