Watusi For Beginners and from the beginning

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in 1996 in Watusi World but has been preserved in it’s original form as it is still so informative. 

By: Marlin Neidhardt

A brief overview of the beginning of Watusi cattle in America and cattle husbandry. Written by a layman, for a layman.

Watusi, “The Cattle of Kings”, invoke a special feeling in the hearts of those they touch. So, if you see these magnificent, huge horned cattle and they stir a magic feeling in your soul – it is something special to nurture and enjoy.

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A Short History of Watusi Cattle

Over 8,000 years ago humans first domesticated Aurochs, the wild ancestor of the numerous breeds of cattle that have played such an important role in human development. In the thousands of years after this first momentous event, humans have bred herds of domesticated animals for use as transportation, companions, protection, clothing and food. In these domesticated groups individual animals exhibiting certain characteristics were selected by the herdmaster and bred to each other. The resulting generations ultimately created the hundreds of breeds of cattle presently known to man. The Aurochs themselves became extinct prior to 1627, but their legacy lives on.

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Horns, Horns, and more Horns

It is no great revelation to any Watusi enthusiast whether a cattle owner or not that the most important and distinguishing feature of this species is the horn. Most of us are aware that the Watusi breed is composed of animals with huge, heavy and long horns. The heaviest and longest of all cattle breeds in the world. But not everyone is really aware just how difficult it is to come up with those fantastic horns.

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Selection of a Herdsire

Editor’s note: Reprinted with permission from Watusi World, Vol 1, Issue II

The selection of a herd sire is by far the most critical factor in determining 50 percent of the genetic potential of every breeder’s future calf crops. Any decision on a herd bull should be well planned and not a sentimental or hasty one. Often, the auction bargain may not prove to meet the highest requirements either. In this article we shall deal with the major considerations and decisions involving sire selection.

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First Watusi in the USA

Reprinted with permission from Watusi World, Vol 5, Issue I

November 9, 1960 marks the date that the first Watusi cattle ever to enter the United States arrived. In a cooperative effort between the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark and the Catskill Game Farm of Catskill, New York, two young bulls, one speckled red and white in color and one solid red were the first to arrive. They were born in Scandinavia of parentage direct from Africa generations before.

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WWA New Corporation

The votes are all in and we are officially opening/merging a new Corporation for the WWA in the State of Delaware.  We have all voted on a few changes in the ByLaws and the Board of  Directors has been spending long hours overhauling the Rules and Regulations.  We will post it all up on this site when it is ready.  Meanwhile, let’s keep getting those calves registered and keep building this wonderful breed.

 

The Swede Pattern – Famous ancient Watusi color pattern

Jimmie the Swede was a full blood Watusi imported to the USA from the Stockholm Zoo in Sweden by Jimmy Tarbox of Oklahoma. He was the first Watusi available in North America in frozen semen, the first to sire a Watusi embryo transfer and appears in the most pedigrees of any Watusi sire this side of Africa. Although he has been replaced by modern bulls with more horn, he left his “Swedish Pattern” color in Mexico, Canada and in between.

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King Louis

King Louis was a large red bull sired by the famous Valentino of the Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida breeding program and out of the cow Fraulien who was an imported cow from the Frankfurt Zoo in Germany. Louis shows up many times in bloodlines of the World Watusi Association records. Although he was used on a few foundation pure cows he was ultimately used extensively on percentage animals by Liar’s Lake of Sparta, Missouri producing over 200 offspring.

red ankole-watusi bull standing in field with trees in background
King Louis

The World Watusi Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of African Ankole- Watusi cattle.