Boran Advantages - Efficiency of The Boran Cow

The Boran Cattle Breeders Society emphasises selection for the ability of the Boran to wean a calf every year under rangeland conditions. The cows are quick to respond to favourable conditions and can rear weaners of more than 50% of their body weight at nine months and still maintain a 365 days calving interval.

The 300kg weaner pictured below is aged nine months, bred at Timau in north Kenya. It is out of a Boran by a Charolais/Aberdeen Angus sire. This example clearly shows the value of the Boran cow for commercial weaner production.

 Boran Advantages -  Ease of Calving

The Boran cow is renown among breeders for its ease of calving. As illustrated in this photograh of a Boran cow with her crossbred Charolais/Aberdeen Angus weaner calf, the Boran breed can be reliably crossed with the largest of exotic breeds. This becomes especially useful in ranching conditions where calving supervision is difficult.

 Boran Advantages -  Mothering Ability

“For it is the mothering ability which determines the pre-weaning growth rate of the calf and the survival rate from birth to weaning.” (FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 34, 1982).

When considering crossing a Bos taurus breed with zebu for the sub tropics, the Boran must surely rank high as the choice of cow. Her well known mothering ability coupled with her prolific traits and small, efficient size makes her the preferred cow for commercial      crossbreeding.

 Boran Advantages -  Longevity

“The length of productive life of a cow is important since the relative cost of raising a calf decreases with the increase in her productive life.” (I.L. Mason & V.Buvanendran. FAO Paper 34 -1982).

The Boran cow is expected to breed regularly and rear well-grown calves for twelve or more years and it is quite normal for fifteen-year-old breeding cows to be sound-mouthed. On record, a sixteen-year-old Boran bull in Kenya is still producing high quality semen for artificial insemination.

 Boran Advantages -  International Praise for The Boran

Robert B. Tate, Brahman breeder, San Antonio, Texas: -
"The prize winning 'get' was outstanding and probably one of the very best 'gets' I have seen in any other country.
The top animals in the Boran classes are outstanding individuals. Since the Boran breed is hardy, already acclimatised to this area and with excellent fleshing qualities as borne out in results of carcass contents, they should remain the outstanding breed of this area. Borans should lead the way in cross breeding which is becoming very popular in all countries in order to obtain this breed's vigour for more weight for age and earlier maturity which will bring more money to the producer."

John Yelland, Hereford breeder, Australia: -
"In selecting both Borans as Supreme Champion and Reserve, we felt that they were showing more muscle development than other breed champions"

P. W. Smith, Senior Boran Society Inspector, January 1999: -
"The Boran cow is God's gift to cattlemen"

Douglas Ralfe, Boran Judge, Natal, South Africa: -
"The drought being experienced in Africa made clear which type I had to choose in the show ring. The hundreds of cattle we saw were very good, with a high percentage I can only describe as excellent. Africa has always had severe droughts from time to time and it was remarkable to see cows in fair condition with very well nourished calves, in extremely hard and dry conditions, despite being kraaled every night which is most taxing."

Bernard Irungu, Daily Nation, 3rd December, 1998: -
"The Boran is the future of pastoralist communities, because it can still tolerate the harsh rangeland conditions better than any cross-breed."