Can exotic and indigenous cattle live together on the same farm or kraal?
Yes, they can, but only under careful management. Experts warn that the differences between these two breeds are so significant that ignoring them can lead to devastating losses.
“It is suicide to wander about with your precious exotic cow,” warns Ruta Ngambwa, a cattle farmer who has seen many farmers lose their investments by treating exotic cows like local breeds.
Ngambwa explains that exotic cattle, mainly of European origin such as Friesians, require a more delicate and intensive approach to care.
Peter Mubiru, a veterinary doctor explains that while Indigenous cattle like the Ankole or Zebu are hardy, heat-tolerant, and disease-resistant, exotic breeds are the opposite.
“Exotic cattle consume more, drink more, and are less tolerant to heat and long treks. They cannot walk far for water or pasture without risking exhaustion or illness,” he says.
Mubiru adds that the management routines also differ.
“You can spray Ankole cattle once a month and deworm them every six months. But a pure Friesian must be sprayed at least once or twice a week and dewormed every three months. If you don’t, you risk losing the animal,” he cautions.
Some farmers try to house both breeds together, thinking it will save on resources, but the experts disagree.
“If you mix them without giving both breeds the same level of care, the indigenous cattle can become carriers of diseases that will devastate the exotics, and you may find it uneconomical to give local cattle such high levels of care,” Mubiru explains.
The ideal solution, according to both experts, is separation. Keep exotic cattle in better housing, ideally shaded and with easy access to clean water and fresh pasture.
“You don’t confine Ankole cows in iron-roofed sheds and bring them grass daily, but for exotic breeds, that’s exactly what you must do if you want them to thrive”, Ngambwa says.
