Afrikaner cattle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Afrikaner cattle (Afrikander cattle) are a hardy breed of beef cattle which are popular in South Africa. In Afrikaans, this breed is called Afrikanerbees.

The Afrikaner is a native South African breed, belonging to the Sanga type. Huge herds of Sanga type cattle were herded by the Khoikhoi (Hottentots) when the Dutch established the Cape Colony in 1652.

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Uses 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Appearance

Afrikaners are usually deep red with long lateral horns. They have the small cervico-thoracic hump typical of Sanga cattle.

[edit] Uses

The Khoikhoi and the Boers used the Afrikaners for meat and milk. However, the Boers improved them to also use as draft animals. It was Africander oxen who drew the wagons which carried the Voortrekkers on the Great Trek.

Africanders have been bred into other lines used in the tropics because of their fertility, docility and greater weight gain potential.

[edit] References

• Felius, Marleen (1985) Genus Bos: Cattle Breeds of the World MSO-AGVET (Merck & Co., Inc.), Rahway, N.J., OCLC 13726656
• Mason, I.L. (1996) A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties (4th ed.) C.A.B International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, ISBN 0-85199-102-5
• Timmins, Lisa (ed.) (1989) Handbook of Australian Livestock (3rd ed.) Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation, Sydney, ISBN 0-642-87194-9

[edit] External links

• "The modern Afrikaner" The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association