In 1922, the Central Romana Corporation, a large sugar-cane estate in the Dominican Republic, initiated systematic cattle-breeding activities to produce good, reliable and hardy oxen to be used as work animals for short-distance hauling of sugar cane from fields to internal railway stations. This effort lasted for well over 40 years. The local Red Criollo breed was used as the foundation stock for selective crossing with Nellore, Mysore and Guzerat. This paper describes breed features, herd management practices and performance levels, includes specific sections on oxen selection and training as well as procedures for their hiring and proper use, and also discusses economic aspects of these operations.
