The Boran, a medium-sized cattle breed of East
African origin, is the breed most widely kept primarily
for beef production in the semi-arid zones of Kenya.
Commercial ranchers prefer the Boran to Bos taurus
breeds because of their relative adaptability to the
local environment – achieved through generations
of natural and artificial selection in conditions of
high ambient temperature, poor feed quality, and
high disease and parasite challenge. Boran genetic
material is recommended as a means of improving
beef production in other indigenous and exotic breeds
in the tropics. Genetic exports to Zambia, the United
Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Australia and the
United States of America occurred from the 1970s to
the 1990s. Export of Boran embryos to Zimbabwe and
South Africa took place during 1994 and 2000.
This market potential has been an incentive for
farmers to improve the breed. By the 1970s, the Boran
had undergone cross-breeding with B. taurus types,
backcrossing, and within-breed selection (which
was mainly based on visual appraisal guided by
experience). During the 1970s a recording scheme
was initiated. Producers sent animal performance
records routinely to the Livestock Recording Centre
(LRC) for genetic evaluation. However, because of
inconsistency and delays in the release of evaluation
results, and the expenses associated with recording,
most producers opted out of the scheme. In 1998, a
bull performance testing project was implemented
by the National Beef Research Centre in an attempt
to evaluate bulls across various herds. However, the
performance testing could not be sustained because
of a lack of funds.
Recently, breeding objectives for Boran production
systems have been developed. Systems are classified
according to the sale age of the animals (24 or 36
months), levels of input (low, medium or high), and
final goal (beef or dual purpose). Traits of economic
importance have been identified, and genetic
parameters have been estimated for some of them.
The Boran, a medium-sized cattle breed of EastAfrican origin, is the breed most widely kept primarilyfor beef production in the semi-arid zones of Kenya.Commercial ranchers prefer the Boran to Bos taurusbreeds because of their relative adaptability to thelocal environment – achieved through generationsof natural and artificial selection in conditions ofhigh ambient temperature, poor feed quality, andhigh disease and parasite challenge. Boran geneticmaterial is recommended as a means of improvingbeef production in other indigenous and exotic breedsin the tropics. Genetic exports to Zambia, the UnitedRepublic of Tanzania, Uganda, Australia and theUnited States of America occurred from the 1970s tothe 1990s. Export of Boran embryos to Zimbabwe andSouth Africa took place during 1994 and 2000.This market potential has been an incentive forfarmers to improve the breed. By the 1970s, the Boranhad undergone cross-breeding with B. taurus types,backcrossing, and within-breed selection (whichwas mainly based on visual appraisal guided byexperience). During the 1970s a recording schemewas initiated. Producers sent animal performancerecords routinely to the Livestock Recording Centre(LRC) for genetic evaluation. However, because ofinconsistency and delays in the release of evaluationresults, and the expenses associated with recording,most producers opted out of the scheme. In 1998, abull performance testing project was implementedby the National Beef Research Centre in an attemptto evaluate bulls across various herds. However, theperformance testing could not be sustained becauseof a lack of funds.Recently, breeding objectives for Boran productionsystems have been developed. Systems are classifiedaccording to the sale age of the animals (24 or 36months), levels of input (low, medium or high), andfinal goal (beef or dual purpose). Traits of economicimportance have been identified, and geneticparameters have been estimated for some of them.
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