On Jan. 25, 2007, U.S. Dept. of Agiriculture scientists at the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station in Brooksville, Florida announced they had identified molecular markers tightly linked to the Slick gene, which codes for short, sleek hair that helps keep cattle cool in subtropical heat.

The Senepol breed of beef cattle was developed on the Caribbean Island of St. Croix beginning in 1860 when George Elliot imported the breed from Senegal.