A
zebu (, or ;
Bos primigenius indicus or
Bos indicus or
Bos taurus indicus), sometimes known as
indicine cattle,
humped cattle or
Brahman, is a species or sub-species of domestic
cattle originating in
South Asia. Zebu are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, a large
dewlap and sometimes drooping ears. They are well adapted to withstanding high temperatures, and are farmed throughout the
tropical countries, both as pure zebu and as
hybrids with
taurine cattle, the other main type of domestic cattle. Zebu are used as draught
oxen, as
dairy cattle and as
beef cattle, as well as for byproducts such as
hides and
dung for
fuel and
manure. In 1999, researchers at
Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu.