National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001 (Haryana).
Sudan possesses large population of cattle in Africa. Sudanese cattle are broadly classified into two breeds: Nilotic cattle and North Sudan Zebu cattle. Types that are related to North Sudan Zebu cattle include: Kenana, Butana (Rofaah), White Nile, Western Sudan Baggara, Foja (Dar Al-Reeh cattle), Qash cattle (Baraka cattle), Arashie cattle, Red Um Bororo, Ingessana cattle and Sudanese Fulani. Kenana and Butana possess good potential for milk production in comparison with the other ecotypes of North Sudan Zebu and Nilotic cattle breed. Mean lactation milk yield of Kenana cows is 1836±186 litre in mean lactation length of 308±6 days. The maximum yield of Butana cows in 330 days was 3012 litre. Nilotic cattle are very poor milkers probably for genetic reasons. Judged by international standards milk production potential of most indigenous Sudanese cattle is sub-optimal.
