Florida Cracker
(most common name)

(local/other name):
• Cracker
• Florida Native
• Florida Scrub
• Scrub

The Florida Cracker originates from Criollo cattle brought from Cuba in 1565 to the colony of St. Augustin in northeast Florida. These cattle thrived, especially in what is now the Florida Panhandle and southern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

Other cattle introduced by settlers to the area (such as Devon, Red Poll, Ayrshire, Jersey and some French cattle) had a minor influence on the Florida Cracker due to the endemic cattle diseases and the humid subtropical environment. Improved cattle breeds were successful only after the cattle fly was brought under control in 1931.

During the 1930s, the Florida Cracker was almost replaced by the introduction of improved beef cattle (principally the Brahman). Private conservation herds were assembled and inherited animals were retained by farmers. Since the 1970s, Florida has supported conservation of the Florida Cracker.

Important Florida Cracker herds have included:
• Durence herd (near Lake Okeechobee)
• Tilton herd
• Chaires herd
• Paines Prairie State herd
• Lake Kissimmee State herd
• Ezell herd (mostly unicolor)
• Neal herd
• Crews Brothers herd (Okefenokee region)
• Wassie Fish herd (northeastern Florida, mostly yellow)

The Florida Cracker is listed with The Livestock Conservancy as being ‘threatened’ as of 2021.

The Florida Cracker is now found in around 15 states in the USA from the east coast (mostly) to Montana. In 1989, a breed society was formed; in 1991, a herdbook was set up.

The Florida Cracker is described as small, narrow, and somewhat compact. Due to the excessive amount of roughage in their diet, they have a large barrel.

Florida Cracker qualities include:
• extreme hardiness
• well adapted to heat, humidity, and poor diet
• parasite resistant
• good fertility
• longevity
• a low input range beef breed

The Florida Cracker has served multiple functions, including:
• beef
• dairy
• draught
• hides
• tallow

Florida Cracker coat colors and patterns are highly variable. In south Florida, coat colors include solid:
• red
• dun
• black
• brindle

Florida Cracker coat colors in north Florida include:
• spotted
• roan
• colorsided
• lineback

The Florida Cracker also has a wide variety of horn shapes and lengths; polled animals are also seen.

The Florida Cracker has a close relationship to the Pineywoods as confirmed by microsatellite studies.

A dwarf variety of the Florida Cracker and the Pineywoods is known as the Guinea.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-17

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