FAQ
Common Terminology:
Sire:
the male parent of an animal. AKA “Dad”
Dam:
the female parent of an animal. AKA “Mom”
Bull:
Intact male. -They still have their testicles and can breed.
Steer:
Castrated male. -They can no longer breed. Steers are usually calmer in nature and produce serious mass in horns!
Cow:
a female that has reproduced.
Heifer:
a female that has not yet reproduced.
Calf:
male or female less than 1 year old
Herd:
Group of cattle
Cattle:
plural for all cows, heifers, bulls, etc.
FAQ's
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Does it hurt them to have horns that big?
Not at all. Their horns are actually hollow inside, much like a honeycomb, and that’s how they circulate blood to disperse heat, resulting in their own little AC to cool themself! Plus, they build muscle around their neck to help support the weight!
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What do you do with Watusi?
We personally just raise them for hobby, and that’s what most people with Watusi do! They’re very well tempered and beautiful to look at!
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Where are they from?
East Africa.
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Are they related to the longhorn?
They originated over 2,000 years ago with a combination of the Egyptian Longhorn cattle and the Zebu Longhorns originally from India. So in a way, yes!
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Can you eat Watusi for beef?
Watusi meat is very lean and known to have lower cholesterol than other commercial beef. However, most breeders don’t slaughter Watusi unless they are not beneficial to have around. (Bad temperament, aggressive, etc.)
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How much do they cost?
Every owner is different. Price varies depending on pedigree, horn size, color, and age. Our girls begin at $3,500 and go up from there.
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What do they eat?
Grass, hay, cattle cubes, & they love sweet feed for a treat!
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How much do they weigh?
They range between 900-1600 pounds, but of course, can range outside of those numbers.
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How many are in your herd?
Currently, we have 25, and growing! And we know each of them by their name!
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How big do their horns get?
Each one is different & unique! They can span out to 8 feet wide, and some can get up to 30” around! There are ones bigger than that, which is outstanding! They’re actually a lot lighter than they look, too, since they’re hollow-ish inside. After some of our cattle have passed, we’ve taken the means to keep their skull & horns, & they’re pretty easy to lift up and move by oneself.
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Do females grow horns, too?
Yes!
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Are they aggressive?
Not typically. Every now and then you’ll get one that wasn’t raised in close contact with humans or they come from a bloodline that carries different temperament. All of our girls are VERY friendly, or they’re not qualified to be HHH. The best way to make them friendly is work with them as a calf, much like you would a dog! Lots of pets!
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Do people show them?
Yes!
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Can you drink their milk?
You could try! Watusi produce around 1 liter a day while lactating, so it would be tough. We don’t milk ours, so let us know if you find some!