Amongst the most beautiful cattle you’ll ever see are the Nguni – a common sight around the Midlands, with arguably some of the best breeders in country located in the area. The Nguni, although originally a hybrid breed (Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus), are now considered indigenous to Africa, and are popular amongst the African farmers of the southern countries of the continent. It is believed they were introduced by the migrating black tribes from the north in around 600 AD. Known for their resilience to disease and their fertility they have long been seen by the black population, especially the Zulu nation, as a store and measure of wealth with many a bride’s lobola (dowry) having been paid in Nguni stock. Considered medium sized bovid animals, bulls weigh in at around five to six hundred kilos, with cows at around the four hundred kilo mark. A breed standard has been defined and adopted by the Nguni Cattle Breeders Society, but the infinite variety of their multi-coloured and patterned hides still singles each of them out as something special. These much prized hides vary in colour to include black, white, red, brown, cream and dun and frequently a well-blended combination of these colours. I have an often admired pastel artwork of these beasts by South African artist David Johnson, now I live amongst herds of the real thing.
Nguni, due to those patterned hides, are a popular subject for photographers – and hardly a local portfolio I have seen does not include numerous studies of them. I have a standing invitation from a nearby farm to spend some time photographing their magnificent Nguni stock – an offer I shall certainly take up. However, randomly encountering a small herd of grazing Nguni cattle roaming alongside a country road, the opportunity to get my first few shots of them was too good to pass up. This bull (not so lonely incidentally) must have been at the top end of that breed standard – I was relieved how unconcerned he was at my (and the camera’s) presence. I did however still do a precautionary check to ensure that I wasn’t wearing any red rags!
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