Dwarf Zebu

This is a zebu.  Zebu are domestic cattle that live in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and East Africa.  Zebu are also called humped cattle, indicus cattle, brahmin cattle, or cebu.  The one in this picture is a dwarf zebu, which is a breed of zebu.  It lives at the NEW Zoo in Green Bay at the petting zoo area.

The day we were visiting the zoo, the zebu spent all of its time eating the hay.  I tried giving it some of the petting zoo food, but it wasn’t interested.

Zebu have a big hump on their backs and a big dewlap, which is a flap of skin that hangs from an animal’s neck.  They live in hot temperatures.  On the farm, they are used for pulling things and they are used as dairy cattle.  They are also raised as beef cattle.  Their hides can be made into leather and their dung can be used as fuel or fertilizer.

When my uncle Tim was in the circus, he walked with a zebu in the show.  It was a miniature zebu named Gandi.  You can see a cool picture and read all about Gandi here.

Zebu are also featured in the VeggieTales silly song “The Song of the Cebu.”