When is a breed not a breed: the myth of the Mpwapwa cattle of Tanzania

Almost all of Tanzania's huge cattle population is native Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) (Bos indicus), an animal of small stature and reputably low productivity. Attempts to improve productivity started in 1925 by crossing local cattle with European (B. indicus) bulls and by disease control using TSZ cattle to produce antirinderpest serum. Efforts to create a beast adapted to central Tanzania's hot semiarid environment were initiated in the 1930s using B. indicus breed such as Red Sindhi and Sahiwal bulls from India and Bos taurus such as Ayrshires from the UK. These attempts were halted in 1940. A new programme, started in 1944, aimed to create a composite animal capable of producing 2300 kg of milk in a 305-day lactation with a calving interval of 380 days and a 250-kg carcass from a 4-year old steer. Additional genetics were introduced including Kenya Boran (B. indicus) and UK Jersey and Guernsey (B. taurus) in addition to the Ayrshire. The composite was declared a breed in 1958 but the animal was nowhere near a fixed type and genetic modification continued for many years. Development was complicated by factors including disease, drought, inadequate nutrition, the political and economic climates and lack of professional staff. Production targets were never achieved and new genetics, especially Sahiwal (B. indicus) from Kenya, continued to be introduced. By the early 21st century, the Mpwapwa animal was almost 80% Sahiwal. There has never been more than 1000 live Mpwapwa-type animals at one time and there has been little dissemination outside the original station. Declared as endangered by international organizations and within Tanzania, it could be considered that the Mpwapwa has never been a breed in the conventional sense of an animal breeding true to type with consistent production outputs.

Automated summary

Tanzania's cattle population consists almost entirely of native TSZ cows, with efforts to improve productivity beginning in 1925 but facing challenges in achieving production targets. The introduction of different breeds and genetics aimed to create a composite animal adapted to the local environment, but various factors hindered development and the Mpwapwa animals have not bred true to type or consistent production outputs.