Droughtmaster
The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of beef cattle. It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. It was the first Australian taurindicine hybrid breed; it is approximately 50% Bos indicus and 50% Bos taurus.
History
The Droughtmaster was developed in North Queensland, where environmental conditions – the cattle ticks which had recently been introduced to the area, the seasonally-variable tropical climate and the low levels of protein in pastures during the summer months – made it uneconomical to rear cattle of European breeds. A grey-blue zebu bull – formerly the property of the Melbourne Zoo – was brought into the area by a breeder named McDowall in 1911; its progeny included two red half-bred bulls. From about 1930 these were crossed on cows of British origin, principally Beef Shorthorn and Shorthorn–Devon cross-breeds. Other British breeds, mainly Hereford, were later used. Much of the development was done by one breeder, R.L. Atkinson.In 1956 breeders decided to focus on red cattle only; the Droughtmaster name proposed by Atkinson was adopted. A breed society, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a herd-book was started.
From 1969, five Droughtmaster bulls were used for cross-breeding with the local Bhagnari in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, leading to the creation of the Nari Master.
The Droughtmaster has been exported to several countries in Africa, Oceania, South and Central America and South-East Asia. Population numbers are reported to DAD-IS by four countries, of which three – Australia, Mexico and Namibia – report numbers between. In 2025 the total population world-wide was estimated at, and the conservation status of the breed was listed as "not at risk".
Characteristics
The Droughtmaster is always red; the coat is short and soft. Sexual dimorphism is marked: average weights are for cows and for bulls; the minimum weights specified in the breed standard are and respectively. Average heights at the withers are for cows and for bulls.The cattle may be either horned or naturally polled.