BORAN in australia

The Boran cattle breed originated in the northern area of Kenya. Ranchers in Kenya recognised them as the best African beef animal in East Africa, with careful selection they improved the breed to the highly efficient animals they are today.

A team led by Dr. John Frisch in Rockhampton,  recognised the value of introducing a tropically adapted breed into Australia that was unrelated to the Brahman. From their research they identified the Boran as having the characteristics required.

They were unable to collect embryos in Kenya; instead they collected them in Zambia where cattle had been taken previously. In the Cocos islands in 1988 they implanted embryo’s into Australian-bred females. A group of CSIRO and Australian cattle breeders in 1990 imported the first calves into Australia, after extensive quarantine testing.

The Boran is a medium-sized beef animal. They come in a range of colours like grey, fawn or red. They are recognised for their high fertility, good maternal ability, excellent temperament and great survivability under harsh conditions. Their good meat and early maturity will ensure crossbreeding projects aimed at improving the productivity of Australian beef herds valuable.