The beautiful Ankole Long Horned Cattle
The beautiful Ankole Long Horned Cattle : Western Uganda is the best place to see the Ankole long horned cattle right with in the districts of Kiruhura, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Isingiro, and Ntungamo. You can identify the Ankole long horned cattle mainly by their long horns that rise up to 8 feet to the tip. The long horns are for protection and defense against any attacks. They feed on vast pasture lands and supplements to their diet. The Ankole-Watusi cattle are a domestic African breed whose names are from native tribes; Banyankole of Uganda and Tutsi of Rwanda and Burundi.
Origin
The Ankole long horned cattle are from the Sanga cattle breed that is divided into different types. This is the Watusi cattle type taking its name after the Tutsi tribe that is in Rwanda. In Uganda, they are among the Banyankole and Bahima. They are less cut for meat purposes.
Herdsmen that come from Egypt with the Zebu cattle, a breed that originates from India and a cross breed, brought about the Sanga cattle family from which the Ankole Long horned cattle hail from. The original Sanga is still in the countries of Ghana and Zambezi although countries like Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi also have them.
Significance in community
The Ankole Long Horned Cattle are also usually inyambo. They have long white horns that arch outwards and then up in the shape of a lyre and a dark brown coat. They are regal animals that can travel long distances while in search for pasture and water. In the olden days the long horned cattle was a touchstone for women and warriors. Currently they are a currency, gift and a maternal figure sacred to communities that depend on them. The Ankole people hinge on the long horned cattle to strengthen their social relationships and during cultural celebrations. They are also celebrated in songs and poems.
Ankole Long-Horned Cattle are usually in a semi-arid strip that is; the cattle corridor. This is in the Rift Valley along the border between Uganda and Rwanda with some extant in Burundi. This pastoral breed provides meat and milk that has the highest fat content used in making ghee, and yoghurt. The blood from these cattle is also a local food. Most people wholly depend on the cattle to care for their families in the Ankole areas. The elders’ maturity and status can be equal to the number of ankole cows they have.
The Ankole Long Horned Cattle, although well adapted to the region and climate are at risk of extinction. The once numerous herds kept in groups of 100 known as “amagana” are now rare to come across. Currently it is rare to find fifty pure-bred Ankole Cattle. Ankole cows were labeled as the cattle of Kings because of the strong ties and significance to the royalty of the people in the region.
Types/Breeds of Ankole long horned cattle include;
The Tutsi strain; a major breed in Burundi reared around the areas close to Lake Tanganyika, characterized by very long horns and red color.
The Bashi strain; found in the southern part of Kivu close to Lake Kivu.
The Bahema strain; reared in Uganda, primarily for wealth, status purposes, paying dowry and for dairy products. Has relatively smaller horns and nowadays reared more for meat. Also found in the north of Kivu.
The Kigezi strain; rare and relatively alike with Bahema strain found in Kigezi region.
