Look after worker with short fat animal (7)

I believe the answer is:

beefalo

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'fat animal' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'look after worker with' is the wordplay.
'look' becomes 'lo'.
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'worker' becomes 'bee' (I've seen this before).
'with' becomes 'fa' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'bee'+'fa'='beefa'
'lo' put after 'beefa' is 'BEEFALO'.

'short' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for beefalo that I've seen is " Cross".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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