Begayt is an Ethiopian breed of cattle. Currently there are ongoing cross-breeding programmes with Arado cattle, in an attempt to increase the milk production of the latter.
Origin of the cattle breed Ethiopia has been at a crossroads for cattle immigration to Africa due to proximity to the geographical entry of Indian and Arabian zebu proximity to Near-Eastern and European taurine introgression with West African taurine due to pastoralism Furthermore, the diverse agro-ecology led to diverse farming systems which, in turn, made Ethiopia a centre of secondary diversification for livestock : The Sanga cattle originated in Ethiopia. They are a major bovine group in Africa – a cross-breeding of local long-horned taurines and Arabian zebus The Begayt are one of the Zenga (Zebu-Sanga) breeds, which resulted from a second introduction and crossing with Indian zebu
Threats on the cattle breed socio-political stresses: civil wars and recent urbanisation panzootic stresses: cattle plague environmental stresses drought and destruction of ecosystems extensive cross-breeding with Arado
Closely related types Arado cattle
References