Mashona
(most common name)
(transboundary/brand name)

(local/other name):
• Makalanga
• Makaranga
• Ngombe dza Vakaranga (= cattle of the Karanga)
• Shona
local/other name (Ndebele):
• Amanjanja
local/other name (Shona):
• Ngombe dza Maswina

The Mashona, a sanga breed, is found in northeast Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, and also in parts of Matebeleland (including Matopo Hills). These are the traditional cattle of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

• 1950 - Mashona breed society formed
• 1954 - Mashona herdbook established

The Mashona is usually black or red, but can also have a variety of coats, including:
• dun
• yellow
• cream
• brown with a yellowish muzzle
• brownish-black with a lighter eel stripe along the spine
• pied (color in patches)
• speckled

The Mashona is also often polled (no horns) which has been selected for in many commercial herds.

This page was last updated on: 2023-07-31

You can also go to:

My Daily Cow® Zimbabwe and read about other Zimbabwean cattle breeds.

The Cow Wall® A-Z Cattle Breed Picture Reference to see other breeds of cattle in the world.