By Eben & Kristi van Tonder for ReEquipFarm and Origins Global Meats, 2 November 2025
Africa’s Cattle Breeds on the Road from Heritage to Precision
Across Africa’s grasslands, cattle are more than economic assets. They are the lifeblood of communities, symbols of endurance, and carriers of history.
In Nigeria, the Bokolo or White Fulani, the Red Fulani, and the Gudali remain pillars of the pastoral economy. In Kenya, the Boran has become a national treasure, and in South Africa, the Bonsmara stands as the continent’s most scientifically refined beef breed.
All five embody different stages in the evolution of African livestock, from adaptive herding to performance-based breeding science.
Together, they tell a compelling story. Africa already holds within its herds the genetics of excellence. What remains is the discipline and institutional structure to transform potential into predictable performance.
2. The West African Foundation: Bokolo, Red Fulani, and Gudali
The foundation of Nigeria’s cattle heritage rests upon three emblematic breeds, Bokolo, Red Fulani, and Gudali, each representing a distinct adaptation within the continuum of West African pastoralism. Together they form the genetic and cultural backbone of Fulani cattle keeping traditions, the Bokolo standing for endurance and stature, the Red Fulani for mobility and resilience, and the Gudali for productive balance. From the arid Sahel to the fertile middle belt, these breeds illustrate the evolutionary dialogue between environment, human movement, and selective husbandry that shaped the region’s livestock economy long before formal breeding programs began.
Bokolo / White Fulani (Bunaji)
The Bokolo, or White Fulani, is Nigeria’s most numerous cattle breed, large, white to silver-grey, with graceful lyre-shaped horns.
It belongs to the Bos indicus Zebu lineage that spread from East Africa across the Sahel centuries ago. The Bokolo’s legacy of endurance is unmatched. It thrives under heat, drought, and long-distance herding.
Yet its productivity in carcass yield, fertility, and uniformity remains modest due to open mating and the absence of controlled selection.
Red Fulani (Rahaji / Mbororo)
The Red Fulani, or Mbororo, is a leaner and more mobile strain, the quintessential nomadic herder’s cattle.
Reddish-brown and elegant, it excels in mobility and disease resistance. Its strength lies not in yield but in endurance, the genetic resilience that has allowed pastoralism to survive in the Sahel for centuries.
Gudali (Sokoto and Adamawa)
The Gudali, sometimes called the Shorthorn Zebu, is Nigeria’s principal short-horned beef type.
Compact, smooth-coated, and well-muscled, it represents the country’s best balance between adaptation and carcass development. It dominates the north-central and northeastern regions, including Plateau, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Sokoto, where pasture is richer than the arid north.
Two main forms exist. Sokoto Gudali is heavier and suited for beef and draught. Adamawa Gudali is somewhat lighter, with strong dairy potential producing up to 1 500 kilograms of milk per lactation under management.
The Gudali combines Zebu resilience with better muscling and milk capacity than the Fulani breeds, making it a natural candidate for structured genetic improvement.
3. The East African Benchmark: The Boran of Kenya
The Kenyan Boran represents Africa’s most successful indigenous beef improvement program.
Derived from the ancient Borana cattle of southern Ethiopia, the Boran was refined through systematic selection beginning in the 1920s. Ranchers selected superior Tanaland and Orma Boran lines for fertility, growth, and temperament. By mid-century, the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society, BCBS, formalised breeding standards, performance testing, and herd recording.
Modern Boran bulls average 650 to 850 kilograms, cows 450 to 550 kilograms, with calving intervals of 13 to 14 months. Their compact, muscular build and strong herd instinct make them ideal for large-scale ranching. The breed now serves as a genetic base for beef production in Zambia, South Africa, and Australia, proof of what disciplined selection can achieve with indigenous stock.
4. The Southern Precision: The Bonsmara of South Africa
The Bonsmara, created by Professor Jan Bonsma in the 1930s and 1940s, is Africa’s first purpose-designed beef breed.
It was engineered through a fixed cross of five-eighths Afrikaner, three-sixteenths Hereford, and three-sixteenths Shorthorn, balancing local adaptability with superior carcass quality. Bonsma pioneered functional efficiency, selecting animals not only by measurement but by structural and environmental fitness.
His strict selection and performance recording produced a composite breed renowned for fertility, feed efficiency, and uniform growth. Today, the Bonsmara dominates South Africa’s beef industry and has become the continental model for data-driven livestock breeding.
5. Comparative Overview
Trait / Origin Bokolo (White Fulani)Red Fulani (Mbororo)Gudali (Sokoto/Adamawa)Boran (Kenya)Bonsmara (South Africa)Genetic type Zebu (Bos indicus) Zebu (Bos indicus) Zebu (Bos indicus) Zebu (improved indigenous) Composite (Sanga × British taurine) Horns Long lyre-shaped Long lyre-shaped Short to medium Short to medium Medium Body size Large but rangy Medium-light Medium-heavy Compact and muscular Large and blocky Hump Prominent Prominent Small to medium Pronounced Small Adaptation Excellent in Sahel heat Extreme mobility Strong savannah adaptation Excellent dryland resilience Semi-arid and temperate flexibility Beef yield potential Moderate 45 to 48 percent Low to moderate Moderate to high High 55 to 58 percent High 58 to 60 percent Institutional breeding Minimal Minimal Emerging Strong, BCBS Kenya Very strong, Bonsmara Society SA Production focus Multipurpose Mobility and survival Beef and dairy Beef Beef and crossbreeding.
6. Path Forward for Nigerian Cattle Improvement
Nigeria holds one of the richest cattle gene pools in Africa. Yet the productivity gap between its indigenous herds and improved breeds elsewhere is striking.
The Bokolo, Red Fulani, and Gudali embody genetic strength but lack breeding structure. Kenya’s Boran and South Africa’s Bonsmara demonstrate what can be achieved when local breeds are systematically developed through data, testing, and disciplined selection. Nigeria’s next step is clear: combine its natural genetic wealth with organised science.
Strategic Steps
- Establish National Breed Societies
Create formal breeder associations for Gudali and Fulani, including Bokolo and Red Fulani. Maintain herd books, registration systems, and standard breed descriptions. Coordinate with public research institutions to guide national genetic improvement. - Develop Nucleus and Multiplication Herds
Designate nucleus herds as genetic reference points for performance testing. Use a tiered system of nucleus, multiplier, and commercial herds. Continuously evaluate growth, fertility, and carcass yield. - Implement Controlled Mating and Record Keeping
Introduce artificial insemination and structured bull rotation to manage pedigrees. Adopt digital identification and record-keeping systems for long-term data continuity. - Establish Performance Testing Centres
Build regional bull-testing stations to measure feed conversion, fertility, and carcass traits. Publish annual performance indexes to guide national selection. - Conduct Crossbreeding and Composite Trials
Launch controlled experiments such as Gudali crossed with Bokolo or Gudali crossed with Simmental. Evaluate adaptability and productivity before stabilising new composites. - Adopt Genomic Selection and DNA Tools
Apply genomic screening for heat tolerance, tick resistance, and feed efficiency. Use DNA-based parentage verification to ensure breeding accuracy. - Upgrade Nutrition and Management
Improve feed availability through crop residues, mineral supplementation, and pasture management. Implement vaccination and parasite-control programs across herds. - Establish Incentives and Traceability
Create market rewards for producers using registered genetics. Introduce traceability to link carcass quality with breed identity. - Invest in Farmer Training
Educate pastoralists and ranch managers on modern breeding, data collection, and herd management. Develop youth mentorship programs and certification for breeding excellence. - Preserve Genetic Diversity
Maintain pure herds of Bokolo, Red Fulani, and Gudali to safeguard adaptation genes. Balance selection for productivity with conservation of local resilience.
7. The Bonsmara – a Class of Its Own
In structure, the Bonsmara is a class of its own. They stand as Africa’s only scientifically designed composite beef breed, refined through generations of strict performance testing. The Boran represents the finest improved indigenous Zebu, perfected through selection within Africa’s natural ecology. Nigeria’s Bokolo, Red Fulani, and Gudali are priceless raw material, genetically resilient, regionally adapted, and ready for transformation.
With consistent policy and scientific discipline, Nigeria could achieve Boran-level uniformity and Bonsmara-level performance within a generation.
8. Historical Anchors
Professor Jan Bonsma, 1909 to 1991, was the South African animal scientist who created the Bonsmara breed and pioneered the theory of functional efficiency.
Kenyan Boran Breeders 1920s to present, were the ranchers and scientists who systematised the improvement of the Boran, formalised through the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society.
Fulani and Hausa Pastoralists of West Africa were the ancient genetic curators whose intuitive selection for resilience, fertility, and mobility sustained Africa’s most adaptable Zebu populations.
9. Conclusion
The story of African cattle is a continuum from survival to science. The Red Fulani and Bokolo embody endurance. The Gudali represents balance and potential. The Boran symbolises refined adaptation. The Bonsmara reflects structured precision.
Nigeria stands at the frontier of a new phase in African livestock history. By blending traditional knowledge with data-driven breeding and institutional support, the next generation of global beef cattle could once again bear African names, born of heritage and perfected through science.
References
AGTR (ILRI) 2014. Animal Genetic Training Resources: Boran, White Fulani, Red Fulani, and Gudali Profiles. Nairobi, International Livestock Research Institute.
Bonsma, J. 1952. Functional Efficiency of Livestock. Department of Agriculture, Union of South Africa.
Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa 2019. Comprehensive Guide to the Bonsmara Breed. Pretoria.
Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society of Kenya (BCBS) 2023. Breed Standards and Genetic Improvement Reports. Nairobi.
FAO 2013. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS): Nigerian Indigenous Cattle Breeds. Rome.
ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa) 1980. Characteristics and Productivity of African Cattle Breeds. Addis Ababa.
Ndung’u, P.W., et al. 2021. “Genetic Characterisation of the Boran and Related Zebu Breeds.” African Journal of Animal Science 51(3): 184 to 195.
Olusanya, S.O., et al. 2019. “Comparative Growth and Milk Traits in Nigerian Fulani and Gudali Cattle.” Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 46(1): 12 to 23.
The Cattle Site 2022. “Breed Profiles: Boran, Bonsmara, and White Fulani.” http://www.thecattlesite.com
Vastrap Farm 2020. The Boran: God’s Gift to Cattlemen. Northern Cape, South Africa.