Sudanese cattle types & breeds

Sudanese cattle types & breeds

Sudanese cattle belong to the species Bos indicus which includes humped cattle (zebu) of Asia and Africa. Sudanese cattle are broadly classified into two breeds: Nilotic cattle & North Sudan Zebu cattle. Nilotic cattle are the descendant of Sanga (meaning ox in the Galla peoples language ) cattle which have long horns and small humps and originated from interbreeding between Hamitic longhorn and the Indian Zebu. Generally Northern Sudan zebu cattle have long coffin-shaped head and ears are fairly long and pendulous. The hump is cervico-thoracic to thoracic in position. The dew lap is large and prominent. Nilotic cattle are small , leggy with narrow ridged backs. Off white and cream coat predominate, skin is pigmented and the hump is cervico-thoracic and dew lap small.

Northern Sudan Zebu cattle vary in size depending on environmental conditions but are larger than Nilotic cattle .Types that are related to North Sudan Zebu cattle include: Kenana ,Butana (Rofaah) ,White Nile , Western Sudan Baggara (Baggara is the name given to all cattle owning tribes in the Savannah belt west of the White Nile to Sudan-Central Africa –Chadian international borders) , Foja (Dar Al-Reeh cattle) ,Qash cattle (Baraka cattle), Arashie cattle , Red Um Bororo , Ingessana cattle and Sudanese Fulani . Sudanese cattle are distributed as follows:

1. Kenana cattle are found along the banks of the Blue Nile. Kenana cattle of the Fong area around Sennar remained pure whereas Kenana cattle in Kosti and the southern part of the Geziera area got crossed with Western Sudan Baggara cattle of Eastern Kordofan. Coat color is white to grey and tends to get darker at the head and feet. The udder is slightly yellowish in color; and the distinctive white grey skin color is stronger in males than females. Mature Kenana bulls and cows may weigh over 500 kg and around 400 kg, respectively.

2. Butana cattle are found between Blue Nile and River Atbarah. They are red in color and slightly dark red at the extremities. Butana cattle are one of the heaviest Sudanese cattle breeds and Butana cow is the cow of choice so far milk production is concerned.

3. White Nile cattle are found along the banks of the White Nile. They are mixtures of Western Sudan Baggara cattle and Kenana cattle. White Nile cattle display many colors.

4. Western Sudan Baggara cattle are found in western Sudan in the greater Kordofan and greater Darfur regions. Baggara cattle display variable coat colors and are given different names in different areas

4.1. Foja cattle are found in northern and central Kordofan and Darfur. Coat color may be red or yellow.

4.2. Qash cattle are found in Khor Baraka and Al-Qash delta of Kassala province. They have white coat color with black spots.

4.3. Nyalawi cattle are white in color and are found in south west Darfur.

4.4. Kori cattle of northern Darfur

4.5 Meisseary cattle found in southern Kordofan state

5. Arashie cattle are found in Qash delta ,Blue Nile and Geziera

6.Nuba cattle (Koalib) are found in western part of the Nuba mountains. They are small cattle that are tolerant to trypansomiasis. Coat color is black but other colors may exist.

7. Baladi cattle: This is nondescript cattle type that is widely distributed in different parts of northern Sudan (Baladi )

8. The cattle of Southern Sudan are predominately Nilotic cattle. Several tribal types may be identified viz;

Murle cattle, Taposa cattle, Mongalla cattle, Anwak cattle and Nilotic Sanga cattle ( that include cattle of the three major tribes in southern Sudan namely Dinka (Dinka Aliab & Dinka Aweel ) , Shuluk and Nuer.