Busha bovine of mountainous area of Korabi Dr. Xhevdet Bashllari, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Consumer Protection Atif Dema, Center for Agricultural Technology Transfer, Fushë Krujë. Sytki Shehu, DRBU, Kukes. Region At north-east of Albania, at the border among Albania, Kosovo and Former Yugoslavia Republic Of Macedonia (FYROM) is situated the area of alpine meadow. This area is lie on 1500 m latitudes round of Korabi Mountain. Alpine meadows of Albania are located between two regions Kuksi and Dibra. Kuksi region includes the villages: Shishtavec, Novosej, Buzmadhe, Fshat, Shkinak and Çajë. In Dibra region are included six villages: Radomirë, Çerem, Ploshtan, Vasije and Kala e Dodës. Climate Korab region has a moderate continental climate with wet cold winters and dry hot summers. The extreme temperatures vary from -15 oc up to 32 oc. Rainfalls are in abundance, with an average longeval above 1530 mm per year. The maximum temperature ever recorder in Buzmadh village is 34.5 º C and the minimum was Radomir village is -15 ºC. Climatic data for Korab region: Seasons Nr. Type of Data Unit Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual 1 Average C 16 32 13-5 18.65 Temperature 2 Relative % 72 55 62 74 69.5 Humidity 3 Showers Mm 220 110 800 400 1530 4 Sunlight Hrs 80 90 75 35 280 History Aristotle of ancient Greece points out with high admiration the cow of Epirus and Illyrian area. He writes Illyrian cows had big bodies and distinct for high prolificacy. (Writing V and VII, Athena). Professor Leopod Adametz (Vienna 1926) confirm that Balkan s bovine is the type of Bos Taurus Brachyceros Europeus and cranium of Albania s bovine. (Dr. Vasfi Samimi Albanian farming - 1940). Dr. Arnold Kuehnaman (Berlin 1927) describes extreme and degenerated types of Albania s mountainous cows. (V. Samimi; T. Tartari Cow breeding 1964). Dr. V. Samimi, based on the measures and carry out studies (1936-1950) on bovine of our country classify it to the Bos Taurus Brachyceros. Prof. T. Tartari, based on the measures of 51 country bovine craniums reaffirms the results of Prof. Adametz. ( Cow breeding I, 1964, HAI of Tirana)
The breeding tradition of Busha cow On this area traditionally is breaded the Ruda sheep. At 1939 this area counted over 200 000 head of sheep or 40 head per km2 and 15 cow head per km2. Traditionally the animals are feed on natural grazing. During the winter season they exploit mainly the hay of natural pastures and a little concentrate. The calves be on graze together with cows from April to October. This area is far away from two cities (Kuksi and Dibra) about 70 km distance. The roads are narrow, extremely mountainous and no asphalted, so, it is difficult to reach those villages notwithstanding cars. This is unwonted area or unique where are not introduced or applied Artificial Insemination, aftermath those animals are breaded as a pure breed and is conserved as type or ecotype of this area. Today, as consequence of leave process of inhabitants of those areas toward the cities, the number of the farm animals is extremely limited. The counted sheep today is about 9000 heads and bovine 2000 heads, which are in danger of extinction. During the period of June 2007, and May-August 2008, we select these farmers in Korab region, (village Çaj, Fshat, Shkinak and Buzmadh: N r. Farmer village Nr. head Age group (years) Production milk kg, year 2007 1 LUAN IVANI Buzemadh 52 4.2 Total milk for calves 2 VESEL SHEHU Fshat 12 3.8 700 3 FIQIRI DERRA Çaje 13 3.5 700 4 ISMAIL MATRANXHI Shkinak 10 4.6 680 5 IDRIZ SHEHU Shkinak 10 4.0 700 6 JONUZ KOLA Fshat 7 4.2 700 Note: Here are not expoused the milk consumed directly by calfs. Type morphologic of Busha Cow From observer in this region, this farmer constable this type: Usually dominates the reddish brown (ochre) color, some times dark, small body, slim neck, dip chests and narrow, pyramidal buttocks, agile, with medium head, shortlegged and average head. Exploit fairly well the pastures in mountain terrains, is resistant to the cold and diseases. Morphologic Type of cows in study: Nr. Body dimension With cm 1 Wither height 104-125 2 Pectoral perimeter 110-122 3 Shin perimeter 7,5 9.0 4 Breast perimeter 33 38 5 Lenght of dug 7,2 9.0 6 Lenght of head 28 33.0 7 Breadth of head 19 23.0 Procreation for this breading is seasonal, which start of month February-May. Period of lactation extend 7 to 8 months.
The future Objectives for Busha breed To protect from eradicate danger is necessary: 1. To be identified and studied genetically the population of existing cows. a. Studying of phenotypic and genotypic features b. Selection of animals with the same features in different herds c. Analyzing of DANN 2. The animals that result with the same characteristics to be established two pilot herds and to breed severally. 3. To carry out the joint studies for the cows of three border states, to select and establish other herds in Kosovo and FYROM (Macedonia). 4. To boost the collaboration among the Vet Faculties of Tirana, Prishtina and Shkup to do the chemical analyses for selection and breeding of recreated herds. Korab Mountain: The Panair plain beneath the peak. Maja e Korabit is the unspectacular elevation on the left.
Busha Cows: