Origin of the Boran
Genetic Composition
The Boran consists of the following genetic proportions:
• Bos Indicus 64%
• European Bos Taurus 24%
• African Bos Taurus 12%
The Boran developed in eastern Africa with the main centre being the Borana plateau in southern Ethiopia and became the dominant cattle breed of eastern Africa. In Kenya commercial Boran breeders have bred the “Improved Boran” since the early 1900’s. The breed has disseminated into many other countries in the last 70 years.
As far as can be determined this is the only breed in the world to have this specific combination of genes. The Boran has been a pure breed for 1300 years. The importance of this is that the Boran will have much stronger hybrid vigour than modern compound breeds in commercial crossbreeding programs.
While Boran breeders have greatly improved the beef conformation of their animals, they have never lost sight of the important qualities of the indigenous Boran.
Genetic Traits
Each genetic component of the Boran confers special characteristics to the breed:
The Bos indicus component results in resistance to disease, and tolerance to ticks, heat and drought.
The European Bos Taurus component confers better beef attributes and width to the Boran.
The African Bos Taurus component contributes incredible further hardiness, ability to digest poor quality grasses, and disease resistance, especially to trypanosomes (sleeping sickness) and theileriosis (East Coast Fever), making Boran cattle rearing possible in areas where other breeds cannot survive.
