The two breeds of cattle kept for milk production in Zambia are the Nkoya and the Sanga.
The Nkoya breed is a small dual purpose breed found in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. These cattle are known for their hardiness, tolerance of drought and heat, calving ease and high milk production. The Sanga breed is a large dual purpose breed found in Southern Africa which originated from the Nguni cattle of South Africa.
Two breeds of cattle are kept for milk production in Zambia. These are the Nsenga and the Sanga.
The Sanga is related to the Zebu, but it is not a pure-bred Zebu. It is a cross between a Nguni or Watusi bull and a local cow. The Sanga has a wide variety of colour patterns, depending on what breed he comes from.
The Nsenga is a breed that was developed by crossing the Nguni with the Sanga. It has many of the same characteristics as its parent breeds, including its colour, horns and shape. It also has many of the same characteristics as other breeds such as the Shorthorn, Hereford and Angus. Like all cattle, there are also different types of Nsenga – some are short while others are tall with long bodies; some have short horns while others have longer ones; some have light coloured hair while others have dark hair etc
Two breeds of cattle are kept for milk production in Zambia. These are the Friesian, which is a European breed and the Nguni, which is a South African breed. The Friesian is a dairy cow that produces milk of high quality with high butterfat and protein content. The Nguni is a beef type of cattle that produces less milk but has a higher meat yield.
Two Breeds Of Cattle Kept For Milk Production In Zambia
Friesian Cattle
The Friesian is a dairy cow that originated in the Netherlands. It was developed to produce large quantities of milk at an early age when it was first introduced into Africa during the colonial era. It has since been modified to suit local conditions but its milk production capacity remains high compared to other breeds. It has been used as a crossbreeding animal in most dairy herds in Zambia because of its high milk yield and good adaptability to different climates.
Nguni Cattle
The Nguni breed originated in South Africa where it was developed by crossing Shorthorn cattle with Zebu cattle (Bos Indicus). The resultant breed was known as the Nguni breed which was later exported to other countries including Zambia where farmers use it for beef production rather than for milk production due to its low yield rate compared
There are two major breeds of cattle kept for milk production in Zambia. These are the Holstein Friesian and the Zebu. The Zebu is the more traditional breed of cattle that has been used for centuries for both draught work and meat production. The Holstein Friesian is a European breed that was introduced into Zambia sometime around 1960s.
The Holstein Friesian is a dairy breed known for its high yield of milk per cow and its high fertility rate compared to other breeds. The cows produce about 6 litres of milk per day and have an average lactation cycle of 285 days (Lusenga, 2017).
The Zebu produces just 1 litre of milk per day but can go into heat twice during its lactation period, which means that it can have up to 2 calves at any one time, unlike the Holstein which can only have 1 calf at a time (Lusenga, 2017).
Dairy cattle are highly productive animals, but their milk production is limited by their ability to convert feed into milk. Cattle are usually classified according to the kind of milk they produce:
Milk cows. This group includes dairy breeds such as Holstein Friesians and Jerseys, which produce high volumes of milk for many years. They are typically kept in large herds on large farms, but small herds are also found on smallholdings.
Meat cows. This group includes breeds that produce large quantities of meat, such as Hereford and Angus, but they also produce milk on a seasonal basis. They tend to be kept in larger herds on large farms or ranches, but can also be found on smallholdings where they are used as dual-purpose animals (see below).
Dual-purpose cattle. Dual-purpose breeds can be raised for both meat and milk production, although they do not produce as much as either breed type alone would produce. Breeds in this category include Limousin and Charolais cattle from France; Simmental from Switzerland; Galloway from Scotland; Devon from England; Sussex from England; Belgian Blue from Belgium; Maine Anjou from