Ankole-Watusi
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not listed[1]: 125 |
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| Country of origin | Uganda, East Africa |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Coat | usually red |
| Horn status | horned, large thick horns |
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The Ankole-Watusi is a Ugandan-African breed of domestic cattle. It derives from the Ankole group of Sanga cattle breeds of central Africa. It is characterized by very large horns.
History
The Ankole-Watusi originates from Uganda central Africa of the Ankole group of Sanga cattle breeds. This breed has been herded in Uganda-Africa for thousands of years and has of recent been exported to South Africa as a gift to South African President Cyril Rhamaphosa by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Some were exported to the United States, and in 1960 a herd was started in New York State by cross-breeding some of them with an unrelated Canadian bull. Some years back others were sent to Germany as zoo specimens in the early twentieth century, and from there spread to other European zoos. [2]: 110 A breed society, the Ankole Watusi International Registry, was set up in 1983,[2]: 110 and in 1989 a breed standard was drawn up.[4] In 2016 the total number for the breed was thought to be approximately 5000 head, with over some 90% of them in Uganda and Rwanda .[2]: 110
Characteristics
The Ankole-Watusi may be a number of different colors, but is usually red. The horns are unusually large, with a wide spread[2]: 110 and the largest circumference found in any cattle breed. Guinness World Records lists a bull named CT Woodie with a horn circumference of 103.5 cm (40.7 in) and a steer named Lurch, with horns measuring 95.25 cm (37.50 in), as record-holders.[5][6]
References
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Ankole-Watusi/United States of America. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2017.
- ^ Ankole-Watusi Cattle. Ankole Watusi International Registry. Accessed June 2017.
- ^ Largest horn circumference – bull. Guinness World Records. Archived 11 October 2019.
- ^ Largest horn circumference – steer. Guinness World Records. Archived 19 October 2019.
Template:Cattle breeds of Africa
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