Cattalo

/ˈkætəloʊ/ noun

Definition

A hybrid animal created by crossing a domestic cow with an American bison, combining traits from both parents.

Etymology

Blend word created in the late 1800s from 'cattle' + 'buffalo' (alternative name for bison). American ranchers coined the term as they experimented with crossbreeding to create hardy livestock.

Kelly Says

Cattalo were one of America's forgotten agricultural experiments—ranchers hoped they'd inherit the bison's strength and cold-hardiness with the cow's meat production, but most were infertile, so the breed never caught on!

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