The Boran is one of the oldest breeds in Africa, originating with the Borana people in Ethiopia. In the 1920s, European ranchers in Kenya purchased Boran cattle and developed a breed known as the improved Boran.
The Improved Boran has been bred and selected mainly as a beef animal. It is possible that, in the process, some herds of Boran cattle may have acquired a little European blood from the European stock used in the 1920s but there is no evidence of this either in colour or in reduction of hump size.
Colour varies from white to red and the stocks are polled or have small horns.
The docility, fertility and improved eat coverage (particularly in the rump), of this breed in comparison to the Brahman, are major advantages of the Boran Breed. This factor, in conjunction with the Boran’s tolerance of poor conditions and its ability to be productive under the most severe of circumstances, places the Boran in a strong position to attract the attention of Brahman breeders.
The specific characteristics/attributes of the Boran could be summarized as follows:
- Drought resistance
- Mothering ability
- Herd instinct
- Fertility
- Carcass quality
- Feedlot performance
- Good temperament
- Disease resistance
- Heat tolerance
- Adaptability
- Longevity
 Crossbreeding trail on Terraweena
The Boran is a true Bos indicus breed which is found in East Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania). Dr john Tail of International Livestock Centre of Africa (ILCA), Nairobi, Kenya, indicated that two African breeds, the Tuli (from Zimbabwe) and the Boran (from Kenya) are likely to have higher productivity than the Brahman (Trail, 1985: SCA Technical Report No 24, Page 30)
Relative to the Brahman, Hetzel (1986) estimates that the Boran may be from 4-18% more productive (weight of weaned calf/100kg cow per year) as purebreds, depending on the environment (SCA Technical Report No 24, page 30). The Boran is considered to be more suited to harsher conditions than the Tuli which is expected to make its greatest contribution in the sub-tropics and the more benign areas of the tropics.
The extent of the heterosis between crosses of the Boran with Brahman derived breeds is still unknown but it could be similar to, or perhaps slightly less than, that of the crosses between other African breeds and the Braham.
Within Australia, the Boran would be used to replace or supplement the existing Bos indicus, the Africander and their derived breeds. It is also likely that new synthetic breeds would be generated by industry. Being similar in appearance to the Brahman, the Boran could expect to be readily accepted by the northern industry.
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