The Ankole Cows were adored in the past and are now a status and wealth symbol. In order to pay the bride price, ankole cows were employed. Ankole cows were utilized to make dairy products like ghee, butter, and bongo, a fermented milk product, rather than for their meat.
The Ankole cows survived and thrived on meager pasture and not needing much water – a hardy livestock breed, unlike most animals. What sets them even further apart is the size of their horns which can exceed 2.5 meters in length. When you see a herd of Ankole cows, visitors to Uganda are amazed by the sight of the range and size of Ankole Cow Horns.
The Ankole Cows are part of an ancient culture and traditions that you can discover when you visit Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, home to the famed Ankole cows. Prized cows with royalty running through their veins are endangered due to crossbreeding and being replaced by dairy Cattle. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the Ankole cow from extinction.
As you venture across Southwest Uganda, you will come across not only magnificent scenery, wildlife, primates, and birds. Also, you will see the most majestic creature among domesticated animals found in Africa.
Since the Middle Ages, Ankole Cattle have been in Uganda. They descended from the Ethiopian Sanga Cattle – which originated in Eurasia with a lineage for thousands of years. Images of long-horned cattle have been found in Egyptian drawings and Art.
The Ankole cows belong to a breed of African cattle belonging to the broader Sanga cattle group of African Cattle breeds. They were introduced to Uganda between five and seven hundred years ago by nomadic pastoralists from more northern parts of the continent.
Ankole Cows were bred for the prized longhorns and colorful skins. The Longhorns also protect Ankole cattle from lions, leopards, and hyenas. They form a tight circle, and their horns will face outward toward the predator.
The Ankole Cows have a long history that dates back to the Egyptians 6,000 years ago. Crossbreeding has made them an endangered species today. They stand for African cultural traditions, a way of life that is in danger in Western Uganda, worrying both cultural leaders and presidents.
