Review of the Origin and Disappearance of Creole Bovines in El Salvador, the First Step for a Possible Reintroduction

Abstract

The American Creole bovine is that animal descended from the original lineages brought to America by the Spanish conquer- ors at the time of the discovery, conquest and colonization of America. These animals faced totally different conditions to those of their regions of origin in the Iberian Peninsula, some adapted and others died. The great expanses of America, isolation and inbreeding promoted the appearance of creole races, which detached themselves from their Iberian origins; but they differed from other races with common origin. An outstanding case of the conservation of these breeds occurs in Colombia where they conserve 7 of these creole breeds, promoting their use and their zootechnical benefits in a globalized world where practically genetic material of any race and latitude in the world can be obtained. El Salvador was not the exception and there were also creole cattle. According to information gathered in this research, until 1970 there were still herds with pure and well-typified creole animals, which were not very far from the other existing creoles in America. Due to modernization and wrong state pol- icies, the breed was totally absorbed mainly by Brahman cattle, but also by the Swiss Brown and Holstein. In the country the erroneous custom persists of calling “bovine” that bovine whose racial composition is unknown. Also, to the Cebucano bovine, which is a Cebuino. However, his racial mix is not allowed to be called Brahman; but the creole bovine in El Salvador and in all America was and will be that bovine descendant of the Iberian cattle brought by Spanish. The Creole bovine is the all-rounder of bovines, it is resistant to extreme climatic conditions, resistant to parasites, they produce acceptably in unfavorable condi- tions and respond to good management, they are highly prolific, which is why Dr. de Alba defines them as “a true biological wonder”.