Ankole-Watusi Cattle

The Ankole cattle is a large hoofed mammal with a black colored coat. It has a thick, muscular body that people harvest for meat. Males grow larger than females, with the average male, or bull, weighing about 1,800 lbs. and the average female, or cow, weighing about 1,200 lbs.

Ankole-Watusi Cattle / Brahman Cattle / Brown Swiss cattle / Boran Cattle / Bonsmara Cattle / Beef Master Cattle / Ankole Cattle / Angus Cattle

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Description

Ankole-Watusi Cattle

Ankole have strong herding and protection instincts. Adults bed down in a circle facing out with calves in the center. They were first domesticated in parts of Africa, such as Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, for thousands of years. These native cattle are adapted to survive several months when food and water are scarce.

Traditionally, Ankole-Watusi were considered sacred. They supplied milk to the owners, but were only rarely used for meat production, since an owner’s wealth was counted in live animals. Under traditional management, the Ankole cow was grazed all day, then brought home to her young calf.

What are Watusi cattle good for?

Ankole-Watusi Cattle

This small birth-weight makes Watusi bulls useful for breeding to first-calf-heifers of other breeds. The milk is about 10 percent fat. Some dairy farmers have used crossbred Watusi cows in their herds to boost the butter-fat levels.

Physical Description: Ankole cattle rusty red coats that can be either solid in color or speckled. Life Span: Ankole cattle can live up to 20-25 years.

What are some interesting facts about Watusi?

The Watusi cattle are named after the Tutsi tribe of Rwanda. Watusi are rarely killed for their meat. A dominant male, females and young Watusi, live together as a family group. Their lifespan is 12 to 20 years, and up to 26 years in captivity.

What makes Ankole cows special?

The Ankole cattle-keeping communities pride in the appearance of the animal due to its thick and long horns, while nutritionists term their meat and milk as high quality. They are also more resistant than many other types, the reason they easily thrive in the disease-riddled tropical areas and during drier seasons.

Both the males and females have the largest horns of any specie of cattle and they can spread nearly 2 metres across. Calves horns will develop at around 2 months of age and by 18 months they are large but quite light and hollow.