Breeds of The Butana and Kenana plains
The dry plains of central Sudan that gave their names to two of Africa's best dairy zebu breeds.
Breeds of this place
Best time: After the rains, from September to November.
The Butana is a wide clay plain between the Atbara, the Nile and the Blue Nile, grazed by camels, sheep and cattle after the summer rains. South and west, along the Blue and White Niles, lies the Kenana country. The red Butana and the grey Kenana cattle, both zebu, are among the best dairy cattle of Africa, valued for giving milk in heat and on dry grazing.
Butana and Kenana cattle
Butana cattle are dark red, Kenana cattle light grey, both with short horns and a modest hump. Both give more milk than most African zebu and have been kept by herders and by government research stations in Sudan. They are related to other zebu of the Nile valley and the Sahel, and herders have long moved them with the rains.
Herding on the plains
Herding families follow the rains north in summer and return to the rivers and irrigated land in the dry season, a pattern centuries old. The Gezira scheme, a vast irrigated farm between the two Niles, gives cattle crop leftovers to graze. Since 2023, war in Sudan has disrupted herding, markets and research across the country.
A trail idea for The Butana and Kenana plains
- Rufaa A town on the east bank of the Blue Nile, at the edge of the Butana.
- The Butana plain Open grazing land that turns green after the summer rains.
- Blue Nile banks Where herds come to water in the dry season.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Butana" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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