Having cattle on your farm can be a huge benefit – and it doesn’t stop with the beef. One cow produces, on average, 12 tons of nitrogen-rich manure a year, perfect for fertilizing your fields and gardens. Manure is the best fertilizer for your crops and also can be sold. People will pay for organic manure.
For the small farm and homestead, there are several breeds. Each of them has different strengths.
Longhorn. This is, by far, a favorite breed to raise here in Uganda especially in Western Uganda. This is because they can be left on pasture for weeks at a time without checking them, and they will be just fine. The Longhorn comes from a very ancient breed of cattle. They are very hardy, and can get by just fine without you. They don’t need help birthing their young, which is a huge plus to small farmers. Their meat is extremely lean and considered a delicacy by many. Longhorns are often used to breed with other cattle, and people will pay for your bull to breed their cattle. Longhorns are not picky eaters. They will eat grass, shrubs, hay, corn, just about anything organic. They are very docile, and good around families.
Angus. Angus cattle are one of the most popular breeds of cattle. They are excellent meat producers and can easily give you 50 percent of their weight in meat alone. Angus are fairly hardy for cattle, and can be left alone for some time. Free-ranging the cattle is very common, perhaps using supplemental hay and corn. The one disadvantage with Angus is, like many other breeds, they can have a hard time calving. It is not uncommon for farmers to have to assist. If you can’t bring yourself to do this, stick with a hardier breed or avoid cattle.
Highland Cattle. There is not that large of a market for Highland cattle as there once was. But it still exists. The meat is very tender and rich. The breed is very hearty, like the Longhorn, and well-adapted for colder clients and higher elevations. The thick fur coat will keep these critters cold in well under freezing conditions. Highland cattle are great grazers and do very well free-ranging. They have a high butter fat content in their milk, and can be used as the family dairy cow as well as a meat-provider.
Hereford. Another good meat producer. Like the Angus, you will have to keep a close eye on the cows during calving season, and some assistance to the new mothers may be needed. They are very similar in temperament to Angus, but require a little more oversight. Like Angus, they will fetch decent prices at the market for live cattle.
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