 Markets improved again during World War II but it was not until 1953 that the herd numbers surpassed the 1894 level.In an effort to resolve some of these problems, a few northern beef cattle producers began investigating the suitability of Brahman or Zebu (Bos indicus) cattle and Brahman cross-bred cattle for their tick-resistance and tolerance of hot, dry conditions.As early as 1910 William McDowall of Christmas Creek station purchased two Brahman bulls from Melbourne Zoo.