NGUNI CATTLE

by David Nuttle

Two of NPI's priorities are improving agricultural productivity & global food security. Our favorite breed of cattle are the Nguni from South Africa. They are a medium-sized breed from a cross of Bos indicus and Bos taurus, having thick multi-colored hides that protect against flies, ticks, and heat. These cattle do well on poor quality grass, herbs, and brush

while going 3-days without water. They are used for dairy, beef, and draft with good milk production and high-quality meat. Traditionally, they were used to pay tribal bride price w/

hides making war-shields and export to Europe for making exotic jackets from hides.

Nguni colors are a mix of brown, black, white, golden, dappled, and spotty with black noses. They are well resistant to most cattle diseases being adaptable and highly resilient and easy to work with. Fertility and performance levels are high for the Nguni. Tolerance of heat, drought, and poor forage makes the Nguni a good breed of cattle for desert areas to include desert lands of Native American Reservations in the SW U. S. USDA import rules/ regulations for cattle indicate no live imports are allowed. Importation would need to be via

fertile embryos implanted in the appropriate host cows already here in the U. S.

Having the right breeds of livestock at the right time and place is critical to making needed agricultural improvements. I learned this fact early working in Vietnam and observing USAID import Holstien dairy cows to that nation that all died of tropical diseases in less than six-months. This error was mitigated by importing, to Vietnam, a small herd of tropical Murrah dairy buffalo from India. I assisted the start of this buffalo dairy and the Murrah were like having large and very friendly puppy dogs.