Characterisation of Kenana cattle breed and its production environment

Abstract

SummaryThe Kenana cattle breed originates from Bos indicus or humped cattle. The name Kenana came from the traditional owners, the Kenana people, who are mainly nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. The light blue-gray coat is the characteristic color of Kenana cattle. Calves are frequently born with a brown-red coat that tends to change to a permanent gray at three to six months of age. At maturity the average body weights of males and females range from 300–500 kg and 250–350 kg respectively. The total population of Kenana and Butana cattle as major milk producers comprises 25% of the whole cattle population of Sudan. The Kenana homeland is the delta between the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The main system of production is the range system which includes the pastoral and semi-pastoral types. The nature of the nomadism in Kenana is relatively mild. The average milk production per lactation (198–257 days) varies between 1 400 kg and 2 100 kg respectively and maximum production is attained at seven to eight years of age.