Cattle : ANKOLE WATUSI

 

Country of origin: Africa, United States of America

Australian Status:

International status: About 2,000 in the USA where this breed was created, based on African genetics. Similar breeds in Africa where the Ankole and the Watusi are separate breeds.

Arrived in Australia: 2000's.

Australian Population: 2020: 15 cows (estimate, not known if upgrades or from embryo). The same in upgrades. 2020 
2022: several F3 upgrades, estimate 20.

History: An ancient breed of Sanga cattle. 

Sanga are descended from indigenous African cattle that had infusions of Bos taurus, and to a lesser extent, Bos indicus, over a timeline that is uncertain at present. The now extinct long horned Egyptian Hamitic cattle are thought to be an early strain. Most Sanga cattle developed in the Ethiopia-Somalia area and migrated with herds taken by people to southern Africa; the time frame for this is uncertain but cattle remains have been found in eastern Africa dating back 7,000 years.

There's a small cervio-thoratic hump, usually on the males of Sanga breeds and large lyre shaped horns are intrinsic to them - vital for temperature control and defence from lion. 

The Watusi type of Sanga cattle are all similar, with local breed names - Ankole, Bahima, Bashi, Kigezi, Kivu, Inkuku and Watusi - in central and eastern Africa. The Bahima have lovely black tipped horns that are the tallest. In Africa these breeds are also known as the Cattle of Kings and the Royal Ox. The variety with the largest horns were called Inyambo, owned by Royalty of the Tutsi people of Rwanda, but are believed extinct.

Watusi are an ancient breed, seen in the Nile Valley 4,000 years ago and in Egyptian paintings. In Africa they're rarely killed for meat, rather they are bled, this is mixed with their milk for a staple diet. Wealth is measured by the number of cattle kept, and gifted as bride dowry.

Sanga cattle of the Watusi type were sent to European zoos, but the breed not noted, so they got interbred. Two bulls were taken to America from Sweden in 1960, followed by a cow in 1963 from an English zoo. A careful grading up program started in America adding Bos taurus, usually from the Texas Longhorn. It required several generations of breeding back to the Watusi to be considered pure. The breed is now popular there, mainly for hunting and the sport of lasoo-ing, and the curiosity of their horns which is a good market for decor after slaughter, and alive, as camera herds. More recently, studies have proved the value of their excellent beef.

Reasonably safe in their homelands of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, their main threat is civil war, poverty and cross breeding to other breeds, often through government cattle improvement programs. It is in the conditions of their homeland they will continue to keep all their traits - but they are under direct threat - the population is shrinking fast. In 2010, Carlos Sere, a livestock expert in Africa told SciDevNet the Ankole would be gone from Africa within 50 years, due to the proliferation of Holstein-Friesians.

There's now a small population in Australia, popular as camera herds for their striking colours and horns, and for their beef. They are derived from American genetics.

Breed traits: Large horns, growing to the largest in the world. As the beast ages the horns grow thicker until they become heavy. The reason given for the horns is to dissipate heat - cooling the blood as it travels through the horns - hence this breed does not need the massive droopy ears and flopping dewlaps of other hot climate breeds. The horns are very warm to the touch due to the amount of blood in them. There have been no studies (I can find) on this temperature control, however it is stated on the Oklahoma State Uni website, Dept. of Animal Science.

Straight backline apart from a small hump. Good well covered frame, narrow through. Most hot climate breeds are deep but narrow through, naturally standing to expose less of their body to the heat, while having more surface area to dissipate it. All part of the cooling system. Most are a red colour, some mottled, patched, spotted and speckled. In Africa pure white ones are popular. Black, brindle, yellow and grey are also seen.

Long legs, they are also very agile, able to run and jump well as they are naturally flighty due to predators in their homelands; for this reason they are handled from very young to gain trust and tractability. Long thick tail to swat insects. Ears are smaller and go outward, unlike most pendulous zebu ears.

Horn shapes vary, some arching up like a lyre, others circular, others more rarely go straight out sideways and grow to ludicrous weights. In Africa straight sidewards horns are culled, lyre shaped ones going upward are preferred. The straight sidewards ones are more common in America, thought to be the result of Bos taurus blood such as Texas Longhorn - these make life difficult for the beast, being more strain on their muscles and making it impossible to lie down properly.

The most horn growth is in the first 5 or 6 years, by age 10 the horns start to thicken instead of lengthen - signs horns are still growing are red patches on them, usually at the base. The cattle are used to their horns and can mingle easily without getting tangled or hurting each other.

Udders are small and high, probably to avoid thorn damage or predator strike, however have ample milk for a calf, milk is very high in butterfat - an astounding 10%. Crosses to dairy cattle to boost butterfat have been successful in America.

Although milked in the African home countries they also need to provide for a calf and don't have enough for both purposes often, not being a strong milking strain; this resulted in calves dying as they were separated from the mothers and only allowed to drink after milking was over, when times were hard. Breeding to improve milk and beef production is underway, however it is hoped outside blood will not take over, rather a process of selection used.

Low birthweight calves mean ease of calving. Protective social groups sleep with adults on the outside with horns facing out, calves inside the circle. Mothers are very protective.

A very intelligent breed. Like many old breeds they can't be mustered like commercial cattle, rather domesticated animals are easily coaxed into following by offering feed, opening gates etc. Following rather than being chased is the method, that way the herd stays together as they prefer. A strong herd instinct means they panic if separated. Staying together and sleeping with horns out, protects them from lions. It is instinctive not to run from those chasing them, rather to fight back, or if they do run, to keep running a long time despite obstacles. Attempts in the late 20th century to keep these cattle in Australia were a failure due to not understanding their herd behaviour. They must be quietened from young, and will then work easily with those who understand them. They have a rolling gait when walking, as their heads nod with the weight of horns, however this is a natural gait as even calves who have not yet grown horns walk the same way.

Able to thrive in very hot conditions, and thrive on basic roughage. Being able to cover big distances, very heat tolerant, thrifty, and easy calvers, they offer a good cross for hot climate cattle, calves growing fast. The beef is lean. The cattle are meatier than other Bos indicus breeds, their muscles good and frame covered, and on good feed they grow good amounts of meat. Studies have proved the meat to be lowest in fat and cholesterol of other commercial breeds (Oklahoma State Uni) - thus healthy for consumers a good reason to maintain the breed, and an excellent trait for crossbreeding. The beef has less cholesterol than fish or skinned chicken.

Organisation: None found in Australia. The North American ones are the World Watusi Association http://www.watusi.org/2012/05/17/a-short-history-of-watusi-cattle/ and the Ankole-Watusi International Registry http://www.awir.org/.

Ankole are also bred in South Africa and registered, as a breed, with the Afrikaner Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa, ACBSSA, These are quality cattle. 

Leahton Park, also known as Texas Wagon Tours - 10k from Chartres Towers in Queensland - has started a breeding program, crossing some with Texas Longhorns by AI. The straws were from the USA. They started in 2015. By 2020 they had F2's and in 2022 are seeing F3's. An excellent place that fosters rare breeds that are horned and which pay their way through tourism.
 

Additonal Notes: any information welcome.

Although often known simply as Watusi, it's best to be aware that is actually another, although somewhat similar, breed.

Photo : Ankole cows. Kampala Post, July 2 2017.

Page by Janet Lane.
Updated July 2022.

 

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