History
These cattle were hardy breeds chosen especially
to withstand the ocean crossing and adapt to their new land. They
were brought to the West Indies and south Florida, as well as to
Central and South America.
Over the centuries the descendants of these
cattle bred for different purposes - milk, meat and draft animals.
They also adapted through natural selection to the various regions
in which they lived. Eventually, their descendants spread across
the southern U.S. and up the coast of California.
In the early 1800's, European and other
breeds were introduced to the new world, and by the 1900's many
ranchers in the Americas were upgrading their herds with modern
beef cattle.
Nearly pure descendants of the original Spanish
cattle almost disappeared, but some managed to survive with little
human care or intervention in remote areas of Central and South
America, and in very limited numbers in some areas of the southern
U.S.
Today there is evidence of a worldwide growing
interest in preserving various strains of these hardy, native cattle.
Cattle associations in Spain, South America and Florida are making
efforts similar to the N.A.C.A.'s to recognize their attributes,
though few actually support registries.
The Name "Corriente": In Central
and South America, the various descendants of the early Spanish
cattle are generally referred to as "Criollo."
In parts of northern Mexico, they are often
called "Corriente," although this term is frequently used
for any small cattle of indiscriminate breeding and not just for
the type of cattle recognized by the N.A.C.A. "Corriente"
became the most common term used at the border to refer to the cattle
purchased for rodeo use.
Consequently, most North American cattlemen,
ropers and doggers know this name, and it was chosen by the founders
of the N.A.C.A. to be used for this registry.
John E. Rouse, in his book, World Cattle,
Vol. III, Cattle of North America, explains the names used in
Mexico.
"Descendants of the original Spanish
cattle, little influenced by modern breeds, are now seen only in
the remote parts of the country. These are generally known as Criollo
cattle, although in the state of Sonora the term Corriente is more
common, and in Baja California the word Chinampo is used.
All these terms, meaning "common cattle"
or "cattle of the country" are applied to more or less
pure descendants of the Spanish cattle, as well as to the indiscriminate
mixtures of these and more recently introduced breeds.
In Florida, the few remaining small, native
cattle - cousins of the Mexican Corriente are called Scrub cattle
or Cracker cattle, and similar cattle in Louisiana are called Swamp
cattle.
Regardless of the name, the N.A.C.A. has
made great inroads toward defining, describing and preserving these
cattle as a specific breed.
The photographs and information contained
on this page are provided courtesy of the North American Corriente
Association, P.O. Box 12359, N. Kansas City, MO 64115. Phone: (816)
421-1992
