Mexican Criollo
(most common group name in English)
The Mexican Criollo is an English language group designation of the following regional subtypes:
• Criollo de Baja California (Chinampo, Frijolillo, Criollo del desierto de Baja California)
• Criollo de Chiapas
• Criollo de Chihuaha (Criollo de Rodeo, Criollo Mexicano)
• Criollo de la Sierra Madre Occidental
• Criollo de las montañas del Norte
• Criollo de Nayarit (Coreño, Criollo Nayarit)
• Criollo del Golfo
• Criollo Poblano (Guerrero)
• Tropical Dairy Criollo (Milking Criollo)
Criollo cattle spread through Mexico starting in the state of Veracruz. Herds were formed around Mexico City by 1535 even though the area was not very productive for livestock.
Criollo cattle then spread to the Bajío region of Central Mexico which includes parts of the states of Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Querétaro. This area was more suitable in climate for cattle. Uses here have included:
• draught
• meat
• hides
• tallow for candles used in mining
By 1565, ranching of Criollo cattle had spread to:
• the Pacific coast of the state of Nayarit
• the Chihuahua desert (which covers parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States)
By 1670, Criollo cattle had spread to the upper and lower parts of the state of Baja California (which is the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula and borders the USA state of California).
During the 17th and 18th centuries, more Spanish and Portuguese cattle were introduced into Mexico.
In the 19th century, large numbers of British breeds and zebu cattle followed.
In the mid-19th century, Criollo cattle spread to the Chiapas region in the southeast of Mexico which borders the states of Tabasco, Veracruz and Oaxaca with the Pacific Ocean to the south and Guatemala to the east. This area is known for its coffee production.
This page was last updated on: 2023-05-18
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