N'Dama

N'Dama
An N'Dama herd in West Africa

N'Dama are a breed of cattle from West Africa, of the Bos taurus-type. Other names for them include Boenca or Boyenca (Guinea-Bissau), Fouta Jallon, Fouta Longhorn, Fouta Malinke, Futa, Malinke, Mandingo (Liberia), N'Dama Petite (Senegal). Originating in the Guinea highlands they are also found in southern Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. They are trypanotolerant, allowing them to be kept in tsetse fly infested areas.[1][2] They also show superior resistance to ticks and the diseases they carry and to Haemonchus contortus stomach worms.[3]

In the 19th century N'Dama cattle were imported to the Caribbean Island of St. Croix from Senegal, and later crossed with Redpolls to form the Senepol breed.[4]

References

  1. ^ Charles G. Hickman, Cattle Genetic Resources Elsevier Health Sciences, 1991 ISBN 0444886389 p34
  2. ^ Oklahoma State University breed profile
  3. ^ FAO study; The state of agricultural biodiversity in the livestock sector p99
  4. ^ Oklahoma State University
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