Beefalo
Beefalo, Bison bastard, are a hybrid breed of weaponised cattle derived from two ancient and long lost breeds, Bos taurus and Bison bison.
Although all records regarding these creatures was lost in the collapse the Juicer Institute of Beefalo Animal Research Studies, J.I.B.A.R.S, continues to make remarkable discoveries through their many research programs and from the countless fosils uncovered in their excavations and expeditions into the wastes.
History
Juicer scholars have confirmed through mitachondrial DNA experiments that the current beefalo line stretches back almost 400 years to the 18th and 19th centuries and that although there may have been instances of the two parent breeds mating naturally in the wild we now know that all Beefalo are sterile creatures and require human intervention to propogate the species.
What scientists cannot agree on is the reasoning behind such a marriage. There are currently two camps with rival theories led by Doctor J'Mie and Professor J'Kay, both of which are highly speculative.
Dr. Jmies theory posits that 4 centuries ago the climate and weather patterns were vastly different to todays, that the North Americas spent much of the year in temperatures well below freezing. We do know that the ancient breeds of domestic cattle were imported from western Europe and that native breeds, although much hardier, yielded less milk and meat. Dr. J'mies camp believe that the two were purposely cross bred to produce a more sturdy animal capable of withstanding the harsh American conditions and still producing high quantities of consumables.
Prof. J'Kay on the other hand believes that the two were interbred for use as protection against the bandits and other vermin that plagued the young American lands. J'Kay proposes that through thousands of years of domestication the European breeds had become obedient yet docile creatures, cross that with the fierce and lethal native Bison and you have a hair trigger loyal one and a half ton africanised honey bee to do your bidding.
Whatever the reasoning behind the breed at some time in the past 200 years the original parent breeds begin to die out and eventually disappear altogether and due to the collapse it is not known if any exist still in Europe.
Although there have been many theories put forward as to the fate of these parent breeds no evidence has been found to reinforce these claims. Some believe that the breeds were no longer of any use and were hunted to extinction, others that the sturdier and more agressive beefalo were released into the wild where they turned on their parents as has been observed among many creatures in the wild when confronted with competition
Post collapse
Without human intervention in the breeding process, their natural sterility and over farming by raiders, settlers and opportunists the Beefalo population slowly dwindled to a handful of herds roaming Crater Rim to such a great extent that there are no longer any male specimens with which to breed with.
It is purely thanks to the Juicer clans and scientists such as Dr.Bishop and Dr.Kigabe that that the beefalo population is slowly recovering. Through advances in DNA remapping and re-sequencing and Weyland Utani cloning technology the Juicer institute is able to record and refine the genetic characteristics of the population in the wild and introduce cloned animals to reinforce herds.
The juicers are determined re-engineer the male line within the next 15 years and hopefully a stable and fertile line within 25 years while retaining their fearsome nature so that they might protect themselves in the wild.
Morissey is murder
The Beefalo fills many of societies needs be it dinner, a nice hat or entertainment.
It's meat can be butchered and served in a variety of different ways, it's hides are cured and fashioned into many of the clothes and furniture we own and many a youth has spent a drunken evening prowling the rim tipping sleeping Beefalo off cliffs and into the ravines.
