State Cattle
Cracker Cattle
In 1565, Pedro Menendez De Aviles founded the city of St. Augustine and soon had cattle and horses shipped from Spain to begin producing beef for the garrison. By 1618, Florida’s Spanish governors were expanding cattle production on local ranches, and by 1700, there were over 30 privately owned ranches in Florida.
During the War Between the States, Florida was the leading supplier of beef for troops on both sides. Records show that in one 10-year period (1868-1878), 1.6 million head of cattle were loaded on ships bound for Cuba, Nassau and Key West.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature passed a bill to recognize Florida Cracker cattle as the state’s heritage cattle breed. This designation highlights the unique qualities of the breed and contributes to its ongoing preservation.