Official AMZA
Bull Breed Standard
7-17-2006
Conformation: Body parts should
be in proportion relative to the size of the bull, length of leg
should be in relation to length, depth and width of bull. Bull
should not appear to be a "dwarf", nor should it appear
to be excessively "leggy". Bulls should have moderate
refinement of bone, not heavy boned or thin boned. Bulls should
appear strong and masculine, angular and athletic. Bulls should
have good muscling, not being fat or thin.
Breed character: Miniature
Zebu Bulls should always exhibit the more extreme zebu appearance
that separates them from Bos Taurus cattle. Refined but masculine,
angular, never square or boxy. Athletic and fluid in their movement.
Color: All colors are acceptable.
Hair Coat: Short, straight,
dense and slick, never curly or excessive in length.
Size: Measured at the withers,
or directly behind the hump, height not to exceed 42" with
no minimum.
Weight: Ideal weight of mature
bulls is 300 to 600 pounds.
Head: Coffin shaped skull,
moderate of width and length. Not too wide or short. A chiseled
appearance, with a convex profile, never dished. Eyes should be
smoothly set into the skull, not protruding or bug eyed. Eyes
should be almond shaped. Eyes and profile should be almost Egyptian
in appearance. Mouth should be free of excess fleshing, clean
and tight. Bulls should be masculine in appearance.
Ears: Moderate in length, leaf
shaped with a pointed end, never round, not too long or too short,
balanced in size in relation to the head, never pendulous or drooping.
Ears should be held outwards or slightly upwards and not too forward.
Ideal ear size is less than 9 inches long.
Horns: Balanced and symmetrical,
any horn pattern is acceptable as well as naturally polled or
de-horned. De-horned bulls should be free of unsightly horn scurs.
Neck: Masculine, muscular and
moderately long, strong, set high into the shoulder and withers
with an upstanding appearance, never short or low set.
Dewlap: Moderate development,
not too long to short, free of excessive fleshiness or folds.
Brisket: Smoothly laid into
the chest floor, free of excessive fat, never bulging or protruding
excessively.
Hump: Large and well developed,
pronounced and balanced. Upright and firm, never leaning either
left or right, placed directly above or slightly ahead of the
withers. Shark fin like in appearance.
Body: Bulls should have moderate
body length, not too long or too short, deep in the heart girth
with a slight increase in depth of body from the heart girth into
the rear barrel and flank. Ribs should be well sprung and deep,
never thin or slab sided with adequate body capacity, proportionate
relative to the size of the animal.
Top Line: Back should be straight
and level in the chine and loin with a natural slope to the rump
from hip to pin bones. Rump should be sloping with a smooth, round
appearance.
Hindquarters: Round and full,
muscular but not meaty with moderate width in the pin bones. Moderate
width in the escutcheon carrying down through the hocks.
Tail: Smoothly set and high
at the rump, long and slender lacking kinks or crooks. Switch
should be long and full, hanging below the hocks.
Legs and feet: Medium length
legs proportionate and relative to body size, not too long or
too short, strong and straight with short, strong pasterns. Rear
legs should be angular, in-curving thighs when viewed from the
side. Hooves should be strong and hard with equal halves and a
moderate cleft between hooves.
Testicles: Well developed,
balanced and symmetrical, strongly attached scrotum with four
even rudimentary teats.
