Afar cattle
| Country of origin | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Distribution | western margins of the Danakil depression |
| Use | Milk, meat |
| Traits | |
| Coat | red, black |
| Horn status | long |
| |
The Afar cattle are mainly found on the western margins of the
Origin of the cattle breed
Ethiopia has been at a crossroads for cattle immigration to Africa[3][4] due to
- proximity to the geographical entry of Indian and Arabian zebu
- proximity to Near-Eastern and European taurine
- introgression with West African taurine due to pastoralism
Furthermore, the diverse agro-ecology led to diverse farming systems which, in turn, made Ethiopia a centre of secondary diversification[3] for livestock :
- The Sanga cattle originated in Ethiopia. They are a major bovine group in Africa – a cross-breeding of local long-horned taurines and Arabian zebus.[4] This comprises the Afar cattle
- The Zenga (Zebu-Sanga) breeds, which resulted from a second introduction and crossing with Indian zebu[4]
Breeding and genetic resource management
The lowlands of
cross-breeding with adjacent breeds.[3]
Stresses on the cattle breed
- socio-political: urbanisation, and civil wars
- cattle plague[5]
- environmental: destruction of ecosystems and droughts[6][7]
References
- .
- ^ S2CID 199323600.
- ^ PMID 22486496.
- ^ S2CID 30291909.
- ^ Pankhurst, R (1985). The history of famine and epidemics in Ethiopia prior to the twentieth century. Addis Ababa: Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.
- ^ Van Cappellen, H (2016). The ox-plow complex on the edge: an ethnographic inquiry into social change and cross-breed dairy farming in Tigray, Ethiopia [MSc Thesis]. KU Leuven, Belgium.
- S2CID 159177828.