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.