The American is a breed of cattle native to the United States and known for its heritage as an American Bison hybrid. It was developed in the 1950s by a New Mexico rancher looking for beef cattle which could survive on poor fodder in the arid Southwest.
Today the American is one of only a few pure breeds with any known Bison genetics, with the more well-known breed being the Beefalo.[1] Art Jones, the original breeder, began by crossing Hereford, Shorthorn and Charolais, and later added extensive crosses with Brahman cattle and Bison.[2] Today all individuals of this rare breed display the genetic marker for Bison ancestry.[1] American cattle are varying in appearance, though nearly all display the floppy Brahman ears, slight humps, and many have horns.