Throughout Africa, indigenous cattle breeds have evolved with wild animals over millennia, adapting to harsh environmental challenges. To this day, the wildlife/indigenous livestock mix remains a particularly worthwhile conservation and economically attractive prospect.
Of all activities to do with commercializing virgin lands, cattle ranching has the least detrimental effect on natural habitats. In fact, all of our protected areas were chosen from former cattle ranches. But the moment a fence is erected to constrain the free movement of animals and hard boundaries are imposed, the need for management arises.
The presence of cattle is not harmful to natural habitat provided that stocking capacity is well managed. The old Australian adage remains true:
“Half stock = full profit, full stock = half profit, overstock = no profit”
In a fire climax environment such as the Eswatini bushveld, veld fires are an integral component of the ecology. Early Portuguese sea farers like Vasco de Gama on their colonizing explorations witnessed the smoke of veld fires along the entire length of the east African coastline. They called it “Terra do fogo” – the land of fire. The former open character of the Swati bushveld was maintained by periodical hot veld fires. Fire remains necessary to control the scrub encroachment which is so prevalent in our bushveld today as a direct result of overgrazing. One cannot eat the grass and burn it!
Boran cattle sharing range with black rhino in East Africa
Photographs courtesy of Ol Pejeta Ranching, Kenya
An everyday sight on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya
Photographs courtesy of Giles Prettejohn
Cattle are a bulk grazer, equating most closely to buffalo as Nature’s main bulk grazer. Wherever the export of beef to any country with veterinary restrictions on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a requirement of the importing country, the presence of buffalo in the area of origin is prohibited because they are immune carriers of FMD.
Boran cattle and buffalo graze together at Ol Pejeta, Kenya
Photographs courtesy of Giles Prettejohn
Although indigenous cattle in East Africa may have built some resistance to diseases spread by buffalo over centuries of co-existence, the risk of reduced productivity in doing so is real.
To substitute for buffalo, the most economic and ecologically acceptable cattle are breeds indigenous to Africa. Both the Nguni and Boran breeds are well adapted to the hostile environmental challenges of African rangelands, making them more cost-effective than foreign breeds. Furthermore, rare indigenous domestic breeds are recognized by the IUCN as valid, bona fide conservation prospects.
The substitution of cattle for buffalo fills an important ecological niche, but it is important to ensure that the presence of cattle does not tarnish the real Africa qualities tourists pay big money to come and experience. The purist Park visitor is repulsed by a mixture of game and cattle – particularly foreign breeds and crossbred cattle, which spoil the African experience and can have a serious negative impact on Park attendance and fallout publicity. However, truly authentic indigenous cattle, such as the pure Nguni, are of very significant cultural and scientific value and therefore successfully used by BGP as part of a genuinely African tourist offering.
International tourists enjoy participating in mustering pure Nguni cattle at KaMsholo
Cattle indigenous to Africa have always been an important contributor to BGP’s financial diversity. They can always be sold as protein, whether or not there is political disturbance or a sudden vacuum in tourism, such as was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, when income from international tourism dried up overnight without warning and persisted for over two years.
Cattle can also be used as a management tool to lighten tick loads. While grazing, cattle pick up ticks and then are dipped to kill the ticks. Tick-susceptible species, such as waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, benefit from the presence of cattle and the lighter tick loads they manipulate on the grazing range.
The public perception stigmatizing cattle for their methane emissions must surely be focused on feedlots where thousands of animals are congested and artificially fed on concentrates. Emissions from cattle on extensive range can be no more harmful than those of buffalo in their natural state. Substituting cattle for buffalo for necessary veterinary reasons solves the disease problem. The additional financial stability provided by cattle and the preservation of rare indigenous domestic livestock genetics are justifications for adding indigenous cattle to the mix to strengthen and sustain Nature conservation.
Nature is smarter than all of us – Tom Lasater
About Impofu Ranching
Impofu Ranching is a leading cattle breeding operation based in Eswatini, dedicated to preserving and promoting indigenous Boran and Nguni cattle through sustainable, natural breeding practices. With a strong focus on conservation, genetic excellence, and the cultural heritage of African cattle, Impofu Ranching supplies top-quality livestock for local and international markets. Whether you’re a farmer, conservationist, or cattle enthusiast, connect with Impofu Ranching to explore how their superior breeding programs can benefit your herd. For more information, reach out to Liz Reilly at +268 7602 1275.