Florida Cracker

The Florida Cracker is one of the oldest cattle breeds in the United States, descended from Spanish cattle landed in the Americas in the early 1500s. As Spain colonized Florida it ran them the way it ran cattle everywhere: extensive, low input, left largely to themselves. Breeds that came out of that system are called criollo, meaning of European origin but born in the New World.

Natural selection did nearly all the work, in an environment that is hostile to cattle. What it produced tolerates heat and humidity, lives a long time, resists parasites and disease, and stays productive on the poor forage of Deep South grassland and swamp.

Nothing competed with it on those terms until Zebu cattle arrived from India and the American Brahman was developed in the early 1900s. The real blow came a few decades later, when parasiticides and other medications made it possible for British and European breeds to survive in the Deep South. The influx of new breeds nearly finished the Florida Cracker off.

Two practical notes. Temperament varies by herd, so judge the herd. And some animals are dwarf.

Do not confuse this with Florida Cracker sheep or the Florida Cracker horse. Three separate breeds carry the name.