Watusi Beef Origin Watusi Beef Coat Color

Ankole-Watusi cattle are the prove-stoppers of the bovine kingdom. Medium-sized animals, with long, large-diameter horns, they attract attention wherever they appear. These regal animals can easily trace their beginnings dorsum more than than six,000 years and have frequently been referred to as "cattle of kings."

The History of an Ancient Breed

Long-horned, humpless domestic cattle were well established in the Nile Valley by 4000 B.C. These cattle, known as the Egyptian or Hamitic Longhorn, appear in pictographs in Egyptian pyramids. Over the next twenty centuries (2.000 years), the Egyptian Longhorn migrated with its owners from the Nile to Federal democratic republic of ethiopia, and then downwards to the southern reaches of Africa.

By 2000 B. C., humped cattle (Longhorn Zebu) from Pakistan and India reached Africa. When these Zebu reached the region now known equally Federal democratic republic of ethiopia and Somalia, they were interbred with the Egyptian Longhorn. The admixture produced -- the Sanga -- spread to the Sudan, Uganda, Republic of kenya, and other parts of eastern Africa, becoming the base stock of many of the indigenous African breeds. The Sanga demonstrated most of the typical Zebu characteristics, such equally pendulous dewlap and sheath, upturned horns, and a neck hump of variable size. Modern descendants of the Sanga, however, vary greatly in size, conformation, and horns, due to differing option pressures by different tribes.

Particularly remarkable are the cattle found in Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. In Uganda, the Nkole tribe'south Sanga variety is known as the Ankole. In Rwanda and Republic of burundi, the Tutsi tribe'due south Sanga diversity is called the Watusi. The Rwanda common strain of Watusi is called Inkuku. The behemothic-horned strain, owned by the Tutsi kings and chiefs, is called the Inyambo, though some current tribal reports merits that this type is now extinct. Traditionally, Ankole-Watusi were considered sacred. They supplied milk to the owners, merely were only rarely used for meat production, since an possessor's wealth was counted in live animals. Under traditional direction, the Ankole cow was grazed all 24-hour interval, and then brought domicile to her young calf. The calf was allowed to suckle briefly to stimulate milk letdown, and so the cow was milked past the herdsman. The calf suckled after paw-milking was finished and was again separated from its female parent. The procedure was repeated in the morning. This minimal nourishment of calves resulted in high death rates in the young. Milk production was non high, with a typical cow producing merely ii pints of milk daily, although an exceptional one could manage up to eight pints. In improver, the lactation period was short. Over the last 10 years, the national authorities has attempted to select for animals which produce more milk and have meliorate meat production. Famine and disease, as well as the conflict with traditional practices, have slowed this effort.

Ankole Cattle Outside of Africa

Because of their striking appearance, and the resulting ability to attract paying customers, Ankole cattle were imported from Africa past European zoos during the belatedly 19th and early 20th centuries. Zoos and game parks in Germany, Sweden, and England were amid the breeders of these cattle exterior Africa. The cattle were chosen Ankole, or Ankole-Watusi, and they were treated as a single breed. American zoos and other tourist attractions imported Ankole-Watusi cattle from European zoos in the 1920s and 1930s. Every bit time went on, and zoos began to change their emphasis from visually-exciting animals to those (wild) animal species in desperate demand of preservation (whether "center-catching" or not), more Ankole-Watusi cattle became bachelor for auction to private individuals and several private herds were begun.

In January, 1983, Northward Americans interested in the Ankole-Watusi cattle brood met in Denver, Colorado, and formed the Ankole Watusi International Registry. Many of these people had been raising Ankole-Watusi cattle since before 1978. They felt that it was time to begin a brood registry which could collect and maintain pedigree information and conserve this interesting breed. Within five months, the Registry had 74 members nationwide. These members shared a strong commitment to the breed, though they had different priorities for it. Some wanted to concentrate solely on the prevention of breed extinction; some selected for their utility in the product of superior cantankerous-bred roping animals. Still others championed the low-fatty and low-cholesterol meat values after these were discovered.

Breed Characteristics

The Ankole-Watusi should appear elegant, well-bred, and svelte. A straight topline and a sloping rump are required; a neck hump is preferred, but not required. Cattle may be solid or spotted in color. Horns are long and symmetrical, with a base big and proportional to horn length. Lyre and circular shapes are preferable to flat. The Ankole-Watusi is medium in size, with cows weighing 900 - 1200 pounds and bulls weighing 1000 - 1600 pounds. Newborn calves weigh 30 - 50 pounds. This pocket-sized nascency-weight makes Ankole-Watusi bulls useful for convenance to first-calf-heifers of other breeds. During the day, calves slumber together, with an "auntie" cow for protection. At night, the herd-members sleep together, with the calves in the center of the group for protection. The horns of the adults serve as formidable weapons against any intruders.

The milk is nearly 10 per centum fat. Some dairy farmers have used crossbred Ankole-Watusi cows in their herds to boost the butter-fat levels.

Because they were developed in a climate where daily temperatures may range from 20 to 120 degrees F, Ankole-Watusi tolerate temperature and conditions extremes well. The large horns human action every bit radiators; blood circulating through the horn expanse is cooled so returned to the main torso. This allows backlog body rut to be dispersed.

Breed Condition

The Ankole Watusi International Registry adopted a brood standard in 1989. This has been an important part of the Registry'south program to encourage beast scientists to take this unusual breed seriously, instead of treating it as a curiosity.

Bloodtyping of Native Pure (xv/16) and Foundation Pure (100%) animals is required for registration in lodge to guarantee the accuracy of the stated pedigree.

Iii meat studies have been done in the last v years, and the results accept been expert for the breed. Ankole-Watusi meat has been demonstrated to be very low fat and to accept lower cholesterol than other commercial beefiness. These studies will proceed, because the AWIR has the establishment of utility value as a high priority. This will exist a way to protect the marketplace for breeding stock as "curiosity" prices begin to disappear.

An upgrade program has been established. The 1/2, iii/4, and 7/8 female offspring of Ankole-Watusi crosses are registerable, and the fifteen/sixteen female or male offspring are registerable.

Reference:

Watusi International Registry, 22484 W. 239 St., Spring Hill, Kansas 66083-9306. Internet address: watusi@aol.com

Images:

Watusi International Registry, 22484 Westward. 239 St., Spring Hill, Kansas 66083-9306. Net address: watusi@aol.com

The Livestock Conservancy PO Box 477, 33 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312

montefioreslosicessir1967.blogspot.com

Source: http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/ankolewatusi/index.html/

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