Bakweri Shorthorn Cattle

Chapter 11 D of Cattle breeds, an encyclopedia

Bordering Nigeria, in the most southwestern tip of Cameroon, at the foot of Mount Cameroon, between Buea and Victoria in the South-West Province the Bakwiri tribe raises the same type of cattle as the Nigerian Forest Muturu. In 1978 Bakwiri cattle numbered only several hundred animals. Their numbers were estimated between 800 and 1,300 in 1992.

The Bakweri shorthorn dwarf cattle are a vanishing breed. Raises many questions: Who still raises them? What are the facts and details of Bakweri herding culture? Any photographs? Conservation efforts? What is the proper (traditional) name of the breed? Who owns a herd? Any historical facts, speculation or educated guesses about how the Bakweris became a cattle-rearing culture?

Bakweri cows (Muturu) together with Pomeranian Coarsewool sheep and other species are listed in by the FAO in this downloadable brochure as an endangered species. Download FAO Flyer

Comments

[Dibussi]

Is it possible to have a picture of the "Cakweri cow"?

[Emil Mondoa]

The only pictures I saw online were closer to caricatures. Remaining cows ought to be protected, extensively photograph and genetic material collected (semen, ova, blood)

[Mbak'a ngombe]

This is a very interesting subject and I do think there are a few links and people who were very much involved in trying to regenrate the breeding of the Nyaka. One of them was Dr.Vincent Cheke Chango who in the early eighties was in Nkongsamba as myself. He was very interested in reviving the mokpwe language and wrote out his own alphabet. One of his projects and the one he endeared a lot of research to, was the regenration of the nyaka. Parts of this research I can remember showed that the nyaka originated from the congo forest. It was the tame version of the wild cow. It's particular success in our region as opposed to the Bororo cow, was it's resistance to multiply diseases in the region including sleeping sickness.
Attempts to confine the nyaka to small fenced areas failed because it returned to it's wild state. The experiment by The Bonjongo people to confine the nyaka to a fence in lower Bojongo in the late eighties met with disaster, as the nyaka became very untame within a year and had to be slain for the safety of the villagers. Mola Mokosso(Zaire) and a team of Germans spear-headed this project.
If Mola Mokosso and Dr. Cheke be contacted, I am sure they will make a fair contribution to this section oif our interesting heritage.

[Emil Mondoa]

I shall be putting word out there for Dr Cheke Chango, a very enterprising brother and friend!