liveweight gains, and the meat yield per carcass are key factors and 
these are considered below. 
Reproduction 
Many native owned cattle in East and Central Africa do not breed 
until they are about 5 years old. The average breeding age of cattle 
is about 3.5 years, and with greatly improved management this may be 
brought down to about 2.5 years. Sheep and goats may breed first 
when just under a year old (Williamson and Payne, 1959). The gazelles 
( Gazella spp.), impalas ( Aepyceros melampus) , and many other wild 
ungulates which reach an adult weight of less than about 200 pounds 
will breed when under 1 year old. Animals whose adult weights run 
from around 250 to well over 1,000 pounds, including topi ( Damaliscus 
lunatus) , kongoni ( Alcelaphus buselaphus) , wildebeest ( Gorgon taurinus ), 
and eland (Taurotragus oryx ) will breed when, just over 1 year old, the 
females producing their first calf when about 2 years old. 
The rate of reproduction of most wild animals is extremely high. 
The females of most wild ungulates up to the size of eland and buffalo 
(Syncerus caffer) normally produce at least one young a year. 
Growth rate and liveweight gains 
The average liveweight gain per day of cattle on moderately managed 
East African rangeland is 0.3 pounds (Talbot, Ledger and Payne 1962) and 
that of sheep in Tanganyika 0.12 pounds (Williamson and Payne, 1959). 
The liveweight gains of some of the principal species of wild ungulates 
(Table 2) range from 0.13 pounds a day for about 10 months for the 
Thomson’s gazelle ( Gazella thomsonii ) to 0.73 pounds a day for 72 months 
for the eland. 
Table 2 points out that wild ungulates reach marketable or econom¬ 
ically harvestable size at an earlier age than domestic livestock. 
Cattle under native management in East and Central Africa reach market¬ 
able size in 5 to 7 years. Under more efficient management this stage 
might be reached in about 4 years. Sheep and goats require 1.5 to 2.5 
years. Thomson's gazelles require roughly 15 months, Grant’s gazelles 
( Gazella granti ) and impalas about 18 months, topis and kongonis about 
2 years, wildebeests 2.5 to 3 years, and elands about 3 years. 
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