Three horned bovine in Central Uganda which has become a tourist attraction

The bovine is among many that is owned by Dr. Frank Assimwe Rubabinda, a Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon at Mulago National Specialized Hospital but also a passionate farmer who showcases his Shemmeza Breeders urban farm on a 100*50 plot that most people use for building houses. Shemeeza means making lives better.

May 11, 2023 - 20:52
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Three horned bovine in Central Uganda which has become a tourist attraction

UGANDA - The Ankole cows supposedly have such long white horns but this one appears to be a special one with an extra horn on its head. The bovine (a domestic animal of the species Bos taurus (cattle) or Bubalus bubalis (water buffalo), and also includes hybrids like Beefalo) has become a tourist attraction in Central Uganda and has left many citizens tongues wagging.

The bovine is among many that is owned by Dr. Frank Assimwe Rubabinda, a Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon at Mulago National Specialized Hospital but also a passionate farmer who showcases his Shemmeza Breeders urban farm on a 100*50 plot that most people use for building houses. Shemeeza means making lives better.

He comes from a farming background as his father owned Friesian cows in 1982. He has 10 Ayrshire cattle and 20 Friesian cows. He brought them from Nyabushoozi where a litre of milk goes for 1000 while in Mukono it is sold between 2000-2500shs.

He is now transitioning from Friesians to Ayrshires. Ayrhires have many advantages because they are brown and are heat tolerant and good convertors because they can eat anything. ''You should visit my farm to get more knowledge," Dr. Rubabinda advises those interested in joining the industry. He says Isreal has cows that produce 80-100 litres a day while the ordinary Ugandan cow produces between 30-40 litres.

Dr. Rubabinda does synchronization such that at any one time out of 30 cattle at least 25 are milking. He applies artificial insemination but says that sex insemination guarantees you a female calf.

He has one model bull that has 3 blood types of Fleckvieh Simmental, Ayrshire and Friesian. According to Dr. Rubabinda he says traditionally the first born is very productive but has one which he castrated and uses it as a showcase.

He intends to buy plots from neighbours to increase space for farming. The prerequisites of urban farming according to Dr. Rubabinda include the ability to handle waste because it can become a nuisance to the neighbours and having storage for the feeds.

Besides Cattle farming, he rears 10 goats and Chicken to supplement on dairy farming.

He rears donkeys which help on the workload although he has 5 permanent workers. Dr. Frank is one of the beneficiaries from Dairy Development Association(DDA) as he has received training in clean hygienic milk production and handling, establishment & management Group dynamics and strengthening, Feed conservation technologies, Dairy animal Health, Breeds and breeding, Good dairy farming practices and Milk value addition i.e., yoghurt processing.

Besides, DDA introduced modern high yielding varieties of pastures which are highly nutritive and can be conserved for feeding in times of scarcity through feed conservation technologies of silage and Hay. These pasture varieties include; Chloris gayana, Bracharia spp, Napier, Centrosema, Calliandra and Lab . According to Ms. Harriet Namuli, the Acting Central region Manager , DDA trains farmers in clean hygienic milk production and handling, establishment & management Group dynamics and strengthening, Feed conservation technologies, Dairy animal Health, Breeds and breeding, Good dairy farming practices and Milk value addition i.e. yoghurt processing.

Central region covers Nineteen (19) districts in the country; Mityana, Butambala, Kalungu, , Masaka, Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, Sembabule, Gomba, Luwero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe, Buvuma and Kalangala.

DDA has both the regulatory and Development arm as an institution. Under the development arm, they carry out intervention which assists stakeholders in increasing dairy production and productivity, improve quality assurance of the raw milk and reduce on post-harvest loses.

John Kusolo John Kusolo, a Ugandan Journalist, Sport fanatic, Tourist, Pastor, and Motivational Speaker. I am passionate about my work with a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenge and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive toward. Socials: John Kusolo on facebook and Twitter.