Not easy to get best of both worlds farming in communal areas

The stakes are high so it is important to select your cattle according to the type of environment that you are farming in,

-  writes Shane Brody.

Many communal farmers have experienced marketing-related challenges because of the type of cattle being farmed in communal areas. While it is understood that Nguni cattle descend from a combination of Zebu and humpless (Bos Taurus type) cattle from East Africa, they are widely regarded as Bos Indicus cattle and so too are cattle such as Brahmans. Ngunis are widely found in communal farming areas, as are Brahman crosses.

Generally, Bos Indicus cattle originate from Zebu breeds and they are distinguished from “beef” or Bos Taurus breeds in the following way:

They have longer and thinner heads. Indicus cattle usually have humps. They can handle tropical, hot and humid climates better. They have less subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) and less marbling or fat in the muscles, but this isn’t necessarily a good trait when it comes to marketing.

They have a less rounded carcass shape and smaller muscling than Bos Taurus, also not a particularly good trait.

They originate mostly from Africa and India while Bos Taurus are largely European breeds.

They have a looser skin and prominent dewlap on the neck area.