The Boran: Uniquely Suited To The South African Environment

The Boran developed after the introduction of Bos indicus cattle to Africa, following the Arab invasion of East Africa in around 700 AD. The breed gets its name from the Borana plateau in Southern Ethiopia, a high-altitude region with harsh climate conditions and frequent droughts.

- Yolanda Venter

The unique attributes of the Boran were recognised by Kenyan cattlemen in the early 1900s with the establishment of the Kenyan Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society, the aim of which was to protect and enhance the breed.

The Boran is a humped, medium-framed animal with sound muscling and large capacity for size. The genetic composition of the Boran is unique and the DNA make-up is Bos indicus (64%), European Bos taurus (24%) and African Bos taurus (12%).

In August 1995, the then Department of Animal Improvement recognised the Boran as a breed and on 17 May 2003, the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa was founded. The objectives of the society are to encourage and promote the breed, as well as maintain unimpaired the purity of the Boran breed in South Africa and promote the interests of the breed by all possible and available means.

Role of the Boran

The Boran plays an important role in the South African beef industry. The breed produces high-quality meat with low input costs, and can be successfully fattened off the veld thanks to its tremendous rumen capacity, ease of movement over harsh territory and browsing ability. The Boran has been a pure African breed for 1 300 years, which gives it great hybrid vigour in crossbreeding programmes, while it also plays a significant role in beef production under adverse environmental conditions.

Characteristics

• High resistance to ticks and African diseases.

• Maintains condition during drought.

• Protection from predation and theft due to its strong herd and maternal instinct.

• Good temperament.

• High fertility.

• Effective converter of poor-quality roughage into kilograms of meat.