The red and black coated Arado cattle are small and hardy.

They are the most common cattle variety in the north Ethiopian highlands.

This breed is often cross-bred through bull and artificial insemination services.

[1] Ethiopia has been at a crossroads for cattle immigration to Africa[3][4] due to Furthermore, the diverse agro-ecology led to diverse farming systems which, in turn, made Ethiopia a centre of secondary diversification[3] for livestock : Mating takes place on the grazing grounds, or the cow is brought to a bull in the neighbourhood.

This favours selection for fitness, and the adaptation to broader farming system and environmental conditions.