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Some of Tuli cattle in NC.

A

andybob

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
1,199
Location
Fordingbridge England.
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!5 yr old cow with heifer calf

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Full sister to first cow (embryo import) pregnant.

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Herd matriarch with heifer calf and friends.

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Brangus/Tuli cross heifer

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A grey Brangus/Tuli cross heifer.

I took these when the cattle and veterinary staff from Duke University visited to see the first Tuli cattle in NC.
 
My next door neighbor here bought 3 Tuli a few years back. They were thicker, heavier fleshed cattle than the ones pictured here and they maintained good condition in the winter running with his straight Simmental cows. I guess they didn't really settle in too well as he had difficulty getting them re-bred. One heifer he bought was real wild too - when they ran her in the race to preg check she went out over the top of the chute before they could catch her and ripped her belly open in the process. I don't remember if the vet stitched her up or shot her.
I think they will be good cattle in a hot climate. They claim also that they never calf during the night - in built fear of lion predation. Maybe some of the folks that like to baby their cows at calving time should try them? It would let them get a good sleep at night. :lol:
 
Grassfarmer said:
Maybe some of the folks that like to baby their cows at calving time should try them? It would let them get a good sleep at night. :lol:
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As I'm up waiting for a heifer to calve, I'm thinking that's not a bad idea :lol: . Maybe I could put stuffed lions around the night lot to keep them on their toes...literally, instead of calving :D.
 
I started with registered Tuli when I bought 60 cows and heifers from the breeding herd in 1970, having been running Tuli bulls over my predominatly Afrikana cross Sussex.
They are totally adapted to the arid climate and parasites having evolved in the low lying bushveld for 2000 years, the Tswana and Matabele traditionally left the responsibility of herding to the boys of the tribe, who at puberty were expected to join the army to prove themselves as warriors, so docility has been selected for as any aggression would have resulted in a quick spear through the heart. This is one reason why I started with Tuli again i the USA, as my disabled son worked with them while I was on the company farm. I don't know what grassfarmer's neighbour was sold but in over 30 years, I have never had any problems with temperament, despite their being extensivly run and only occasional handled. All research in Rhodsia and Botswana proved them to be more fertile and a higher birth to wean survivability than other beeds in the tests.
Had I been allowed to stay in the USA, I would have moved my herd to somewhere more challenging such as Navada, so was selecting for good foraging conformation. Due to their unique genetic make up, they give a good boost of heterosis in any cross with existing commercial breeds, and provide exelent F1 damlines for arid areas.

http://www.tuli.co.za/
 
Andybob, I certainly wasn't trying to run down the Tuli breed, I was just reporting what I saw on my neighbors farm. They were part of a bunch of registered Tuli imported by a guy just east of Rimbey, AB. I'm not sure where they were imported from.
I'm sure they have great attributes but probably aren't the best choice for the cold, deep snow climate of central Alberta.
 
I know of three quite large herds in Canada, Grassfarmer, all developed by importing embryos from both Zimbabwe and South Africa, the three old girls in the pictures were born in Canada out of Zim embryos. I would never have recommended the Tuli for the type of conditions so far north, but the reason they were imported was to sell them on to the USA, Mexico, several Caribean islands, Argentina and Brazil. They do, however, seem to have a following for cross breeding in Canada, there is also interest in the Bonsmara herd in Alberta which as a composite are probably better adapted.
I did not mean to imply you were incorrect Grassfarmer, I am just surprised that a Tuli would be so ill tempered, there has also been a tendency for people to mistake Senapol for Tuli, they are entirely different genotypes, but are phenotypically simlar, thus causing some confusion.
Per, the Tuli varies in colour from deep red to white, reds are popular for crossing with Angus to compliment the reds and to throw black calves from the black Angus, the red Angus/Tuli is by far the most popular cross in the USA, whites are diluters so will not throw black calves.
 
Blkbuckaroo said:
Thanks for the pics andybob,i would love to see more pics of ranching in Africa if you have them.
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I will have to scan some photos as I have no digital pictures from that era, I will get some posted when I get some time, I have an interview tomorrow so might be moving over the next few weeks, ( have already had an interview after being shorlisted, expect tomorrow will be an offer).
 
Blkbuckaroo said:
Thanks for the reply Andybob,and good luck on the interview.
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Thank you, I have been offered the management position with good pay and benefits, the link to the farm is;
http://www.laverstokepark.co.uk/
The farm tour covers the livestock details.
 
The Asian buffalo are as docile as the Jerseys on the farm, (unlike their African cousins which I grew up with), the problem is they produce a tenth of the milk and take four times as long to milk as the Jerseys!
The dangerous animals are the wild boar, they had to shoot four last month when they became aggressive.
 

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