Ankole cattle are an ancient breed of cattle, today found almost exclusively in east Africa around Lake Tanganyika. They are very hardy animals and can live in very poor conditions with little water and poor grazing. Ankole cattle have a medium-long head, a short neck with a deep dewlap and a narrow chest. Their horns are extremely long and grow outward on either side of the head. They also have fairly large ears through which they lose heat. Most often the coloration is red but fawn, black or pied are not uncommon. In Africa the animals are highly prized as status symbols, for ceremonial functions and not for their productivity. The milk is about 10 percent fat. Some dairy farmers have used crossbred Ankole-Watusi cows in their herds to boost the butter-fat levels. Ankole-Watusi meat has been demonstrated to be very low fat and to have lower cholesterol than other commercial beef.
