Boran cattle

History

Kenyan Boran cattle were developed from the native shorthorned Zebu cattle of the Borana Oromo people of southern Ethiopia. They are usually white or fawn, with the bulls being darker with black point. Their great similarity to the American Brahman cattle is not without basis, they are also descended from cattle from the western coast of India, only much earlier.

Since 1951, the Boran Cattle Breeders' Society has been managed and strategically breeding Boran cattle in Kenya. As of 2008, there were approximately 454 beef ranches in the country, which can be classified based on ownership as one of five categories: group ranches, private company ranches, co-operative ranches, public company ranches, and government ranches.

Physical characteristics

Having been in Africa for over a thousand years, they are very well adapted to local conditions and parasites. Boran cattle are known for their fertility, early maturation (more so than other Zebu breeds), hardiness, and docility.

Types

The Orma Boran is the smallest of the Boran breeds, smaller than the Kenyan Boran. Mature male Orma Boran range in size from 225 to 395 kg, while females are from 250 to 355 kg.

The Kenyan Boran developed from the Orma Boran, Borana, and Somali Boran. The Kenyan Boran is differentiated from other Boran due to its size and well-developed hindquarters. Mature male Kenyan Boran range in size from 550 to 850 kg, while females are from 400 to 550 kg. The Kenyan Boran coat colour is usually white with spots, but brown and red coat colours have also been found.

Parasites

Boran have very little trypanotolerance, although surprisingly they do carry a few alleles which are specific to Boran and could be useful for introgression into other breeds. As Boran are not entirely derived from extra-African forebears, and have spent some of their formation time as a breed within Africa, it is possible that this is the result of selection against trypanosomiasis challenge.

References

References

1. (2007). "The state of the world's animal genetic resources for food and agriculture". [[Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
2. "Breeds - Boran".
3. "The Boran Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa".
4. "Boran Cattle". [[Oklahoma State University]].
5. Rege, J. E. O.. (2001). "Zebu Cattle of Kenya: Uses, Performance, Farmer Preferences, Measures of Genetic Diversity and Options for Improved Use". International Livestock Research Institute.
6. "Brahman".
7. (October 7–9, 2008). "Institutional Framework and Farm Type Characterising the Kenyan Boran Cattle Breeding Program".
8. (2003). "Mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling trypanotolerance in a cross of tolerant West African N'Dama and susceptible East African Boran cattle". [[National Academy of Sciences]].
9. Naessens, J.. (2006). "Bovine trypanotolerance: A natural ability to prevent severe anaemia and haemophagocytic syndrome?". [[Elsevier]].