13/04/2026
Did you know that the coat colour of your livestock plays a part in livestock predation? Head over to to find out why.
Get • Did you know that something as simple as coat colour can influence livestock predation risk for some animals? The joint 2020 research published in the Animals 10(4) journal titled: ‘Lions Panthera leo Prefer Killing Certain Cattle Bos ta**us Types’ found that cattle with black and brown coats were preferred. It is the work of Florian J. Weise, Tomeletso Mathata, Andrew B. Stein, Michael J. Somers, and Matt W. Hayward who collectively represent the University of Pretoria, CLAWS Conservancy, the University of Newcastle in Australia, and the University of Siegen.
The researchers “studied cattle depredation patterns in Botswana's Okavango Delta and tested whether lions exhibited specific preferences based on cattle demographic characteristics (s*x and age), as well as morphological traits (body mass, horn length, and pelage patterns)”. Pure black, white and brown colouring were significantly avoided. “Lions predominantly killed cattle at night (87.1%) and exhibited no preference for either s*x”. You can read the article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/4/692.
Among female cattle, being strategic about choosing individuals with strong maternal instincts and traits that make them less vulnerable, such as strength, can build a herd that is better equipped to thrive in spaces where predation is a significant risk. As a farmer, the more you research about your livestock and their various traits, the better equipped you are to make such strategic decisions that affect your herd productivity, and your mental health.
Tune in next week Wednesday as we delve into another method to increase productivity and decrease predation. onwardswegrow
