Ankole-Watusi

Cattle · Heritage · 0 live listings

Ankole-Watusi are Sanga cattle from east and central Africa, where their huge horns marked status and help shed heat. In the US they are kept mostly for their striking look, lean beef and hardiness, and their horns shape how they must be handled.

At a glance

Purpose
Ornamental, lean beef
Origin
East and central Africa
Mature weight
Cows 900–1,200 lb
Lifespan
20–25 years
Temperament
Alert, can be protective
Best fit
Experienced keepers, exotics
Species
Cattle
Category
Livestock
Group
Heritage
Also known as
Watusi
Registries
American Angus Association (AAA), American Hereford Association (AHA), Other breed association
Papers
5 categories
DocilityAlert; cows guard calves
HardinessHeat hardy, lean feeders
UpkeepHorns need wide facilities
Beginner fitNeeds experience

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

Horns can span six feet or more, so standard chutes, trailers and feeders often will not work, and a toss of the head can injure people. Cows are protective of calves and need calm, experienced handling.

Common questions

How do you handle cattle with horns that large?

Plan for wide gates, open-top or horn-friendly chutes and larger trailers. Keepers usually work them slowly on foot and train them to feed pens rather than forcing them through tight alleys.

What health tests should Ankole-Watusi have?

Ask for a negative BVD-PI ear-notch test on every animal, a Johne's herd status, and a recent trich test on any breeding bull. Breeding stock crossing state lines also needs a health certificate and official ID.

Is there a registry for Ankole-Watusi?

Yes. The Ankole Watusi International Registry records pedigrees and horn measurements. Ask for registration papers and see the parents if horn size or color matters to you.

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Health tests to ask for
Veterinary exam on fileBVD-PI negativeTrichomoniasis negativeVaccinations currentTuberculosis test negativeBrucellosis test negativeJohne's test negativeGenomic DNA test

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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Ankole-Watusi · Everybarn