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.