Recent content by andybob

Welcome, I have been involved in regen and later the holistic management since the 70's in Rhodesia, then in several other countries since the farm invasions. My interest has always been in adapted genetics which has been mostly Sanga based breeds due to these being the most adapted breeds where...

I remember several discussions in the early 1980's with Dr Schmitt-Dumont who was working on projects selecting Sanga genetics, I think the main project was with "Herero cattle" She was interested in seeing the Tuli herd I had exported to Rugby farm Otjiwarongo in 1978 (now under the Omatako dam!)

Ank oleand Watusi have been in the USA as a minority breed for some time and are often kept by hobbyists. You could look into the Mashona and Tuli breeds which have larger populations, and see if they meet your criteria, there are several composites available which might carry thetrait you are...

I was assuming that, as most "other breeds" became black when Aberdeen Angus was the predominant black breed - with breeds such a Galloway not suitable for changing colour in slick haired breeds - that these were originally bred to Angus to bring in the colur, there are more naturally black...

Of course this is a marketing ploy,in the UK any steer sired by a pedigree Aberdeen Angus can be marketed as Angus beef, this increases the market share for Angus bulls and semen. Other breeds have their markets with several heritage breeds also receiving premiums for their beef, one neighbour...

The Aberdeen Angus has been showcased since the beginning of the breed in Scotland, with famous stories about the founders showing Queen Victoria the herd - by walking the same quality animals in a circle around the barn and back to where the queen was sitting to give the impression of there...

Smithfields "forgot" to send my greencard application to the immigration people, so I moved to the UK when my work permits expired. someone in Georgia bought my developing herd, I don't have his contact details anymore.

Will you be able to market Nguni crosses, as the mixed colours are very dominant in the crosses? The only source of Nguni for the USA would be Australia at present as the export of semen and embryos from South Africa has been put on hold due to foot and mouth outbreaks in the north a while...

Both breeds are excellent for a wider range of climatic conditions, and both breeds have been used in composites for harsh,hot conditions, with Sanga breeds used to bring in the parasite resistance here are some pictures of the older foundation cows in my herd in Raeford North Carolina...

The Mashona evolved in a far hotter climate than European Taurus so it is no surprise that they, and their crosses have not been affected from the information I have from the main breeders in the USA, they do come in red as well in the USA, but only these two solid colours were imported.

Where established composites are not docked, there is no reason to change, though a rancher with a large commercial herd over several properties added 25% Red Tuli to his herd 20+ years ago to improve some performance traits. Where "eared" cattle are docked, but summer heat can be a problem...

It is not only black hided cattle although they are more susceptible to heat stress, but British and European breeds as a whole, which struggle with heat stress. Some breeds cope better than others - Murray Grey, Sussex and some Shorthorn strains for example, but the long term solution is to...

Because I was raised in an community which only veld raised cattle, the first step is to source, or select within your herd, the right phenotype for grass adaptation, this is more to do with "type" than breed. Knowing the nutrient value of your pasture throughout the year is also essential for...

I raised Wiltipers when at school but upograded to Dorpers when I bought my first property, as there was no awn grass to hook into the residual wool. I had tries to source some native Sabi several times, but they were and still are scarce and I never succeeded in getting any.