A&M University and elsewhere that were familiar with the breed and the In 1942, Mr. Len Harvey, who was a land development officer, noticed a distinct yellow type of animal in the indigenous herds in the low veld south of Gwanda. The herds were decimated and by the time these diseases were under control it was estimated that only 50,000 head remained in the century. Quality and yield grade improvements were the most obvious benefits of the use of Mashona bulls on local cattle, mostly Angus and Brangus. They are known to be efficient feed converters and are profitable as compared to the Tuli, Afrikaner and Brahman. I am text block. Roy it's very passionate, and he's been with us since 2010. Because of the dearth of reliable evidence and the general lack of historical records in Africa, the conclusions arrived at must be regarded as somewhat speculative. A few of the animals were naturally polled. This appears to be the most recent type to enter the continent and evidence indicates that is was introduced down the East Coast by Arab and Indian Traders from about the middle of the seventh century A.D. They have very distinct wet and dry seasons there. greened up when the rains came...the cattle gained weight rapidly and 273 pp. The true Mashona, as I remember it, had very short legs, bone very fine, a long thin tail, with a bush at the end of it, not unlike the bush on a lion's tail. McLeod began building up herds of indigenous cattle in Mashonaland. Our Mashona cattle have done very well in New Mexico. They were a very small breed, with very small and fine bone, very compact. Quality grade was nearly doubled in most cases. What impressed him was how well they bounced right back once the land Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. They had lovely symmetrical horns. Genus Bos: Cattle Breeds of the World, 1985, MSO-AGVET (Merck & Co., Inc.), Rahway, N.J. Mason, I.L. Click edit button to change this text. Additionally, low birth weights proved especially advantageous for first calf heifers. Mr. McLeod bought most of his original animals in the Mhonondoro area. Mashona cattle originated from the Shona people of eastern Zimbabwe. research that documented their performance. end of the dry season forage was scarce and the cattle were looking poor. The Mashona, a Sanga type cow of South-central Africa, has developed over thousands of years to be thoroughly adapted to the local environment. A small breeding herd was established at Tjolotjo, approximately 130 km northwest of Bulawayo in 1946, and this subsequently grew to become the main center of research and developed of the breed. Causey, NM 88113. College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, College of Human & Environmental Sciences, Ag Education, Communications & Leadership, Master of International Agriculture Degree Program. I am text block. From about this time both Government and private individuals began importing bulls from South Africa and overseas with which to grade-up and "improve" the indigenous stock. A few years later the name was changed to the more specific Mashona Cattle Society. Our Mashona cattle have done very well in New Mexico. Slaughter weights for the most recent group on feed were 1150 lbs (522 kg) and 1030 lbs (467 kg) for steers and heifers respectively. 3.7K likes. The horns in the oxen were longer and more widespread. with the help of Dr. John Tiffin, and under a strict and never before privately in 1997. The Mashona is different and that difference will continue to be its most valuable attribute as we all strive to improve the quality of the beef we produce. They are bred in a wide spreading territory covering most of the eastern half of Zimbabwe and an adjoining region of Mozambique that is free of the tsetse fly. I might add that the hair on the Mashona cattle was very short and simply shone, when in perfect condition, which in the early 1890's they generally were.". Mashona cattle originated from the Shona people of eastern Zimbabwe. NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections. Following the decimation in the Shona herds caused by the cattle plague of 1896-98 and the East Coast fever … Our cows weigh about 950 lbs (431 kg) and the bulls 1350 lbs (612 kg). Their moderate size, low birth weights, and heat tolerance serve them well. Jim Weaver, Weaver Ranch, P.O. They were mostly cows and were probably Angoni type shorthorn Zebus, but it is not known what lasting genetic influence they had on the native herds. The horns in the bull were also rounded but shorter and heavier, curving out and upwards. Indigenous cattle of varying types found throughout the length and breadth of Africa, but only since the turn of the present century has any attempt been made to study and classify them. Their moderate size, low birth weights, and heat tolerance serve them well.