Afrikana cattle
- Thread starter andybob
- Start date
houstoncutter
Well-known member
I guess AndyBob my question is what do they bring to the table that a Brahman doesn't already bring?
DOC HARRIS
Well-known member
hc-houstoncutter":1wfy5coe said:
Your question is a reasonable and logical one - one that every beef producer should address when considering
any breed change from that with-which they are familiar and accustomed to specific breed characteristics.
Not being familiar with the Sahara Africaner breed, I carefully perused the web site presented by AndyBob here, and was surprised and intrigued by the claims therein. Just on the face of what I observed by the information presented and the pictures accompaanying the website, I was favorably impressed with the obvious beef Phenotype of most of the cattle. They have less excessive skin waste, particularly under the throat and sheath areas. They have not indicated all of the details of EPD's with which breeders in the Western Hemisphere are familiar, but , from a Carcass standpoint they seem to exhibit considerably more thickness and depth of body and hindquarter than the average Brahman presents. Their width of shoulders to rump seems more uniform, and wider than Brahman, the stated resistance to insects and disease is comparable, and the stated meat quality seems to be a positive factor. The demonstrated "herd instincts" of the pictured females seems to indicate a dominate mothering instinct and protective trait. The Phenotype of the bulls pictured here was certainly indicative of a desirable cross-breeding protocol with which some Southern breeders might be interested in pursueing.
However, before jumping into an unknown set of factors without knowing all of the details, thorough investigation should be accomplished prior to breeding commitments. But from what I have seen on this thread, I was favorably impressed with the Africaners! I would just like to know more about Production and Maternal traits and characteristics! The breeders of the cattle seem to have their futures focused in the right directions.
DOC HARRIS.
houstoncutter":16bvbavp said:
Beef quality, Afrikaner cattle have the most tender meat of all the Sanga or Indicus types, it's a fine grain meat comparable to beef of the better British beef breeds for tenderness. The specific website isn't the best advertisement for traditional afrikaners, though. It seems they've infused Bonsmara blood in their herd?
The problem of the afrikaner breed is fertility, but its still better than that of Brahman, as far as thickness goes, its much of a muchness, afrikaners make a far better profile pic than a rearview pic.
It's always been my first love as far as cattle breeds go, but must say herefords have overtaken them in my heart.
R V
Well-known member
Knersie,
As far as the Sanga breeds go, what is your take on the Mashona breed? Also do you consider Bonsmara to be an improvement over Afrikaner?
Thanks!
Ron
As far as the Sanga breeds go, what is your take on the Mashona breed? Also do you consider Bonsmara to be an improvement over Afrikaner?
Thanks!
Ron
No experience with the mashona breed at all, but I'd think they'd be too similar to the nguni, in other words very hardy, but not enough production. Some Bonsmaras certainly is, but they are too popular here and that is never good for the breed as a whole.
R V
Well-known member
Thanks for your input Knersie! I think you are probably correct. Last year I was looking for a Sanga bull to use on charolais and charolais cross heifers to see if I could improve summer breed back here without decreasing carcass quality. I lucked into a good deal on a small group of Mashona yearlings. They remind me of polled Longhorns right now, but they are solid red or black. They are very docile and the differences in their herding instincts have been interesting. My 12 year old son thinks they are the greatest cattle ever. Our first calves will be this summer, so I will learn more then.
