It is therefore a breed which has been bred pure for the last 1,300 years and is not a “synthetic” or “compound” breed which has been crossbred in the last few decades (“Breeds - Boran - The Cattle Site”). The genes or perhaps more importantly the traits through which they are expressed, have literally stood the test of time and for good reason. The Boran’s genetic makeup is comprised of 24% Europ
ean Bos Taurus, 64% Bos Indicus and 12% African Bos Taurus. Breed that combination pure for more than a thousand years and the result is an animal that will allow any commercial or small-scale cattle breeder to optimise through the reality of heterosis and subsequent hybrid vigor and which will be displayed far more strongly through the Boran than any of the modern breeds. This breed is ideally suited to Africa and perhaps even more so Zimbabwe, given the type of animal husbandry that we predominantly practice and their ability to not only breed successfully with our local breeds (who have also stood test of time) but to also impart their superior genetic traits through heritability and heterosis. Among the many superior traits of the Boran, those listed below put them in a class of their own:
• Ability to not only survive but then thrive after times of drought, scarcity or winter,
• High resistance to tick borne and other diseases,
• Short hair coat and highly motile skin,
• Herd instinct and mothering ability,
• Longevity and production life,
• Cow to calf weight ratio at weaning,
• Bull size, fertility and virility,
• Temperament,
• Short period to “finish” and ability to do so off the veld. It was with these traits in mind that the von Pezold family, owners of Forrester Estate and with their vision and pioneering spirit set about the almost unimaginable task of introducing, for the first time ever to Zimbabwe, the superior Boran breed. A trip was arranged to Kenya, the heart of Boran country and after much effort, determination and an artificial insemination exercise coupled with a comprehensive embryo fertilization and implantation program, the first Boran calves were born in Zimbabwe in 1993. These calves became the foundation stock of not only the current Forrester Estate pedigree Boran stud but the start of the entire Zimbabwe Boran breed as we know it. In 2009 and having not only realized but witnessed their superb attributes firsthand, Forrester Estate again used embryo transfer technology to accelerate and consolidate the genetic prowess of the herd having identified the best of the genotype and phenotypes. To this day, Forrester Estate is still fondly referred to as, “The Home of The Zimbabwe Boran “.
