F1 Tiger Stripe Cattle Advantages, Disadvantages, Facts

The term "tigerstripe" refers to the F1 cross of Hereford and Brahman because of the animal's tiger-like striped brindle hair. The cross is believed to be the result of a cross between the beefier Hereford of English ancestry and the more heat-tolerant Bos indicus Brahman.

Many cattlemen consider Brahman or "ear" cattle to be wild and uncontrollable. On the other hand, they can be the easiest cows to handle and are much smarter than the average bovine if they are well treated and handled on horseback rather than touching them. They are simple to manage for a trained person, but you will find it difficult to manage them on your farm if you are not well trained.

Advantages of F1 Tiger Stripe Cattle

Hot and humid conditions are suitable for these F1 tiger stripes. They can get out and chase whatever feed is available better than straightbred cattle because they are more heat resistant and can handle that type of climate. "They fit well in a harsh environment, where sore feet and eye problems are common management issues due to the climatic conditions." They are well adapted to areas, particularly in central and south Texas, where the environment and terrain demand some Brahman influence". When tigerstripes are compared to straight Brahman, the difference is clear that they are more resilient to environmental conditions and resistant to diseases aggravated by climatic change.

Disadvantages of F1 Tiger Stripe Cattle

The F1 tiger stripe cattle does have one drawback, according to cattlemen. There is currently no good marketing outlet for feeder calves with Brahman ancestry. They are not eligible for Certified Hereford Beef (CHB®), even though they are 50% or more Hereford, and are often discounted at sale barns.

Characteristics of F1 Tiger Stripe Cattle

On a vast 500-acre cattle ranch in Central East Texas, over 100 F1 Tiger Stripes are born each year. These cattle and their offspring thrive very well on new green grasses in the spring and summer. These Tiger Stripes produce stout, beefy, heat-resistant, healthy babies who wean quickly and develop even faster when crossed with pure-bred Charolais Bulls.