American
The American Breed is an American bovid hybrid of cattle used for meat with a small percentage of American bison blood. 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. It is one of the few cattle breeds with any known Bison influence, another being the Beefalo. Art Jones, the original breeder, began by crossing Hereford, Shorthorn and Charolais, and later added extensive crosses with Brahman and Bison. All individuals of this rare breed display the genetic marker for Bison ancestry. In 2007, its conservation status was unknown. A breed society was established in 1976; in 2016, it was inactive.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an American
Finding a responsible American breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the American. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Americans appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for an American breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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