The Commercial Future of the Boran: Cross-breeding
The Boran developed in eastern Africa, more specifically the Borana plateau in southern Ethiopia. This area was where all the different breeds migrated through to their various destinations in Africa.
The Boran developed into the dominant breed of eastern Africa and especially in Kenya, where the Kenyan Boran Cattle Breeders' Society (BCBS) have bred the "Improved Boran" since the turn of the century.
As far as can be determined this is the only breed in Africa to have this specific combination of genes.
Boran× Nguni Cross
Genetic studies at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have shown that the genetic composition of the Kenyan Boran is unique.
The genetic background of the Kenyan Boran is predominantly zebu, the breed also contains taurine background of two separate origins.
Boran× Brahman cross
The Boran is a breed that had its last infusion of 'new' genes in 700 AD. The Boran is therefore not a synthetic or compound breed that have been crossbred in the last few decades. It has been bred as a pure breed for 1300 years.
The importance of this to the commercial breeder is that the Boran will have much stronger hybrid vigour than modern compound breeds.
Boran × Augus cross
Today Boran breeders have greatly improved the beef conformation of their animals, but they have never lost sight of the important qualities of the indigenous Boran.
Practical characterisics of the Boran cross breeding
The fact that they are an African breed, well adapted to our climate and particularly resistant to our local insect and tick borne deseases.
There fact that they have an excellent ability to convert roughage into meat and can be successfully fattened off the veld makes them ideal to supply grassfed beef into an increasingly conscious consumer market.
The predominantly Bos indicus purebred Boran is ideal for crossbreeding because of its hybrid vigour
The fact that they are predomintely Bos Indicus and pure bred for 1300 years makes them ideal to cross-breed (due to the hybrid vigour) with any of the other prominent breeds.
As the benefits of cross-breeding with Boran become more widely known there is a natural demand for top quality bulls in commercial herds.
