Kuri
The Kuri is a breed of the humpless longhorn group of cattle. The humpless longhorn grouping relates them to the N'dama cattle. They are used for meat, milk and work. They are intolerant of heat, sunlight, and can not stand long periods of drought. They are good swimmers and spend much of their time in Lake Chad. Despite their heavy weight, ranging anywhere from 800 to 1100 pounds, some believe what helps their swimming abilities is their unusual horns. While Kuri are specific to the lands around Lake Chad, it has been hard to get a stable number of how many exist. However, there is evidence that shows declining populations throughout the last couple of decades. One of the reasons for Kuri's declining numbers is believed to be due to the interbreeding of them with zebus, another type of cattle. Another reason being that Kuri have been living near Lake Chad for thousands of years, which makes them hard to relocate since they have not needed to adapt much. Between 1953 and 1957, a group of Kuri were relocated to try and habituate another place outside of Lake Chad, but the attempt was a failure.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Kuri
Finding a responsible Kuri breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Kuri. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Kuris appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Kuri breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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