Saidi
(most common name)

(local/other name):
• Saeidi

The Saidi is a variety of Egyptian cattle with some zebu blood; the cows have a small cervicothoracic hump. Other than that, they are similar to the Cyprus, Damascus and Lebanese in conformation (shape).

Some believe the zebu influence in the Saidi came from northern Sudan, however studies have not shown exactly how this admixture into Egyptian cattle came about. What is known is that their acquired zebu genes are on the autosomes — not in their mitochondria (which contains its own DNA) or on the Y chromosome.

Also, further south in Africa, other breeds can be found that have a strong taurine affinity, like the Saidi, but with a higher zebu admixture. Because of this, some argue that zebu influence for all African cattle entered mainly through the Horn of Africa (a peninsula in Northeast Africa containing the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia).

Sturdy and disease resistant, the Saidi is used primarily for work in the hot, dry desert climate of Upper Egypt, beyond Aswan. (The Nile starts in the southern highlands of East Africa and then flows north towards the Mediterranean Sea. When traveling the Nile starting from the Nile Delta, you are going ‘up river’ — this is why the southern part of Egypt is called Upper Egypt. The traditionally rural Sa’idi people live in Upper Egypt and speak Sai’idi Egyptian Arabic.)

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-20

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