Begayt cattle

Begayt is an Ethiopian breed of cattle.^[1][2] Currently there are ongoing cross-breeding programmes with Arado cattle, in an attempt to increase the milk production of the latter.

Begayt

Country of origin	Ethiopia
Distribution	Western Tigray
Use	Draught, milk, meat (in that order)
Traits
Coat	black and white stained
Horn status	medium
Cattle Bos (primigenius) indicus

Origin of the cattle breed

Ethiopia has been at a crossroads for cattle immigration to Africa^[1][3] due to

• proximity to the geographical entry of Indian and Arabian zebu
• proximity to Near-Eastern and European taurine
• introgression with West African taurine due to pastoralism

Furthermore, the diverse agro-ecology led to diverse farming systems which, in turn, made Ethiopia a centre of secondary diversification^[1] for livestock :

• The Sanga cattle originated in Ethiopia. They are a major bovine group in Africa – a cross-breeding of local long-horned taurines and Arabian zebus^[3]
• The Begayt are one of the Zenga (Zebu-Sanga) breeds, which resulted from a second introduction and crossing with Indian zebu^[3]

Threats on the cattle breed

• socio-political stresses: civil wars and recent urbanisation
• panzootic stresses: cattle plague^[4]
• environmental stresses drought and destruction of ecosystems^[5]
• extensive cross-breeding with Arado

Closely related types

• Arado cattle