The Different Breeds of Cattle and their Unique Characteristics

This article will consider the different breeds of cattle with particular reference to the tropical Nigerian breeds for instance. Breeds of cattle differ from the region and from one ecological zone to another, acclimatized to the specific zones or regions. A breed is defined as a group of animals having a common origin and possessing certain members of the same species. 

These characteristics are uniform by transmitted from generation and are important to know. It is, therefore, necessary and important to know the various breeds whether they are for dairy or beef to plan for their various management practices to improve production.

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Nigerian Breeds of Cattle

The Nigerian breeds of cattle fall into several categories which are discussed in the following sub-units.

1. N’dama: It spread to most of W/Africa from the Fouta Djallouhighland of Guinea. It has acclimatized to conditions of the rain forest up to the southern limit of the north Zebu breeds.

It is a small, limbless, well-built animal with a straight top line and short, fine limbs. The coat color is usually yellow, fawn, or light red. The udder of the female is very small and set high between the legs.

They are poor milkers(450kg maximum), sometimes used for draught purposes, essentially beef animals, tolerant to trypanosomiasis but break down under stress. Has meat of good quality. Matured live weight is 230-420kg.

2. Kuri: It is restricted to the Lake Chad area and part of Borno state. Kuri cattle live on the island and the shores around Lake Chad. It is a tall animal with enormous circular or bulbous horns very thick at the base and humpless. The large horns are hollow and light and are thought by some to help the cattle when swimming from one island to another in Lake Chad.

The Kuri is a meat and milk animal with an average lactation yield of 600 – 700kg and a live weight of up to 650kg. It is a poor draught animal. They are white, and light grey, sometimes with dark spots on the flanks.

3. White Fulani (Bunaji): It is an indigenous breed found in Northern Nigeria and accounts for about half the cattle population of Nigeria. It can thrive under a variety of conditions. It is fairly large, with a height of about 130cm, bull weighs about 50kg, and cows 325kg.

The hump is large and well-developed, the navel flab is small and the horns are of medium length and lyre-shaped. The typical color is white. The white Fulani is a triple-purpose, with milk production of 2300kg per lactation. Crosses of white Fulani and Holstein increase milk production at NAPRI-Shika, Zaria. 

Age at first calving is 42-45 months but in Fulani herds, it can be as high as 5 years.   They provide much of the beef consumed throughout Nigeria.

4. Sokoto Gudali: This breed is found predominantly in the former Sokoto province (Sokoto State). It is also called Bokologi. This is a medium-sized, short-horned breed. The develop, hump, and navel fold are pronounced. The usual coat color is grayish, white, or creamy. The hair is short and the skin is thick and pigmented. The ears are pendulous.

Sokoto candali are useful milkers. Their milk yield at Shika (NAPRI) is higher than for white Fulani. Has a calving interval of 360-450 days.   It is also a useful animal. The matured live weight ranges from 300 -550kg.

5. Muturu: This is a West African dwarf short horn. It is found in the coastal area of West Africa. The breed is resistant to trypanosomiasis. The muturu is a humpless cattle usually having a dam brown or black coat color.   

The body is compact and at maturity, the bull can weigh up to 300kg. It is a very hardy breed and in most local communities, it acts as a scavenger.

Other cattle breeds found in Nigeria include Keteku, Adamawa Gudali, Red Fulani(Rahaji)

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Specialized Breeds of Cattle

In the developed countries of the world cattle breeds have been selected and improved upon for specific purposes of milk and meat production (dairy and beef). Examines of some specialized breeds are:

1. Beef Cattle Breeds: There are categories of cattle breeds for beef and their origins are outside the shores of Nigeria as indicated in the following discussion.

2. Hereford: This breed is native to England, coat color is very distinctive ranging from light to dark red, and the color of the face is white.

3. Brahman: This is an American Zebu mostly white in colour.

4. Aberden Angus: The breed is native to Scotland. The coat color is black. The breed is polled. They matured at an early age and yielded good-quality carcasses.

Dairy Cattle Breeds

There are five common dairy cattle breeds as explained below:

1. Hoiston-Frisian: Originated from Holland. The coat’s color is mostly white or black. This is largely dairy breeds cow weight 567kg ewe 816kg bulls.

2. Jersey: Originating from the Island of Jersey in Britain coat colour is light brown to black, black muzzle with a white ring encircling. Jersey is the smallest of European breeds of cattle.

3. Guernsey: Originated from Channel Island. The color is light brown to red with white markings on the face, legs, switch, and flank.

4. Ayrshire: Red with white markings or white with red markings. Colour is variegated.

5. Brown Swiss: Originate from Switzerland. The color is light to almost black.

In summary, there are many breeds of cattle all over the world. The ones studied under this unit are just a few. Breeds of cattle found in Nigeria have not been improved upon to identify their specific purpose. Elsewhere, cattle are specialized either for milk or meat, while some cattle breeds are however multi-purpose.

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