Boran cattle
Template:Short description Template:Infobox cattle breed
Boran cattle are a popular Zebu beef breed in eastern Africa.[1]
Through DNA sampling, Hanotte et al. have analyzed the genetic make-up of the Boran and it consists of the following genetic proportions—64% Bos indicus, 24% European Bos taurus and 12% African Bos taurus.[2][3]
History
Kenyan Boran cattle were developed from the native shorthorned Zebu cattle of the Borana Oromo people of southern Ethiopia.[4][5] They are usually white or fawn,[4] with the bulls being darker with black point.[5] 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.[6]
Since 1951, the Boran Cattle Breeders' Society has been managed and strategically breeding Boran cattle in Kenya.[7] 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.[7]
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.[5]
Types
The Orma Boran is the smallest of the Boran breeds, smaller than the Kenyan Boran. Mature male Orma Boran range in size from Script error: No such module "convert"., while females are from Script error: No such module "convert"..[4]
The Kenyan Boran developed from the Orma Boran, Borana, and Somali Boran.[4] The Kenyan Boran is differentiated from other Boran due to its size and well-developed hindquarters.[4] Mature male Kenyan Boran range in size from Script error: No such module "convert"., while females are from Script error: No such module "convert"..[4] The Kenyan Boran coat colour is usually white with spots, but brown and red coat colours have also been found.[4]
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.[8][9] 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.[8]
References
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