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Hawaiian wild cattle

Hawaiian wild cattle

The Hawaiian wild cattle are a feral breed of domestic cattle introduced at the end of 18th century. Thousands of them are still freely roaming forested areas on the Island of Hawaiʻi. It was listed as "extinct" in The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2007; it is not among the cattle breeds reported to DAD-IS by the National Animal Germplasm Program of the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Life Span 18-22 years
Weight 450-900 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Hawaiian wild cattle

Finding a responsible Hawaiian wild cattle 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 Hawaiian wild cattle. 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 Hawaiian wild cattles 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 a Hawaiian wild cattle breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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