Judges Report
The Chairman-The Boran Cattle Breeders Society, Kenya
Judging the Boran and beef cattle at the Brookside livestock breeders Show for 2013.
It was a privilege to be invited to judge the Boran and beef breeds at the livestock show 2013.
The judging started on the 26th June 2013 with a VERY strong and large class of Boran heifers.
I was extremely impressed with the femininity that was displayed within the Boran females and yet still
showing the width and strength required to carry the beef for today’s markets. The heifers and cows
placed in these classes were all of a very high standard and a credit to the Boran breed.
The cow that I chose as the grand champion Boran was a cow from Ol Pejeta who made an impression
as she entered the judging ring; she was very feminine with great length from hip to pin and fantastic
depth and width. Her balance was superb, she had plenty of bone and yet remained feminine. She was
ably assisted by her very recently born calf. The young heifer placed as the reserve Boran female was a
red heifer from Woragus. She too was a superbly balanced, feminine female with a great topline and
very well developed loin, there is much to look forward to in her breeding career.
It was good to see the placings well spread between the different exhibitors.
The Bull classes again started with a very impressive class both in quality and numbers. All through the
bull classes I noted great underlines on the bulls with very few not being placed for poor underlines. The
classes were again all very large and very well contested.
The young bull chosen as the grand champion Boran bull, and later as the supreme beef animal, was
again an animal that caught my eye every time I saw him in the ring, he was exhibited by Suyian Ranch.
He was an alert young bull who carried a lot of beef, he walked well and had excellent feet and legs,
with a fantastic topline and loin. His length, depth, width and again balance were just what I would
require in a Boran bull. A young bull that showed himself well. The reserve champion Boran bull was
also a fantastic beef bull, he was exhibited by Ol Pejeta. A bull showing plenty of body length and still
holding a good topline. A masculine bull that walked very well on strong feet and legs. Again a functional
bull that carries a lot of beef.
I am told that this show had a larger number of entries in the Boran classes as compared to the previous
couple of shows. The larger numbers certainly did not take away from the quality with every class being
difficult to judge with a few contenders for each position.
In the other beef breeds, represented by Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Santa Gertrudis, my Champion
Female was an Angus female from Marania. The heifer was a credit to her breeder, a very feminine
heifer carrying a lot of beef, very strong through the topline with the distinctive female ‘wedge’. The
first 4 heifers were all very strong beef heifers.
In the bull classes the champion beef bull was a Santa Gertrudis bull exhibited by Woragus. A large bull
that was very well put together. Exceptionally long from hip to pin and walked well for such a large bull.
Another strong beef bull and the eventual reserve beef bull on the show.
It was a pleasure to judge such great cattle and thank you to the BCBS for the invite to be the judge.
Again thank you to all those who were involved in the organisation and to all the exhibitors.
Just as a side note: There were a few animals in the Boran classes that were ‘marked down’ because
they did not walk freely, this was only because they were extremely overweight. I believe one of the
important marketing points of the Boran is its ability to move so well over vast distances, and animals
should not be fat, but well covered for showing purposes.
Neville Pinkney – Zambia
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