Arado

Cattle

The Arado cattle are considered to be intermediate breeds between sanga and zebu groups of cattle [CS 1.10 by Okomo]. This intermediate group has been termed zenga (Rege, 1999). The Arado are found in the highlands of Eritrea and adjacent parts of northern Ethiopia in northern Shire, Adwa and parts of Agame. Of the Assaorta varieties of the Eritrean Arado, the largest ones are found in Hamasen and Libam, the medium size Arado are kept by the Mensa and Waira tribes, and the smallest ones are found in Habab and Akale-Guzai provinces. The colours are mostly red with shades ranging from light to dark. Many animals are red-pied or black-pied and a few of them are black, brown, grey or white. The head is of medium size, with a short and broad face, and a straight profile. The horns vary in size and may be large, crescent-shaped or even absent. Ears are of medium size often partially pendent. The hump is smaller in females, larger in males and the dewlap is relatively large. The back usually slopes to the sacrum. ref: agtr.ilri.org