French #1 Cattle Breeds

1-The Abondance is a mixed race breed of cattle which originated in the high valleys of Haute-Savoie, France. Description They are medium-sized, with the female weighing in at between 580 and 680 kilograms (kg) and standing 1.30 metres tall. They are golden brown in color with a white head (apart from the eyes), underside of the abdomen, and extremities of its legs. The bull weighs in at between 645 and 820 kilograms (kg) and stands 1.70 metres tall. Their colour is different, with a chestnut red and a bit of white on the head. Their milk is rich in both fat and protein, with a good balance between the two. The milk is traditionally used to produce Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheese such as the reblochon, abondance, tome des Bauges and the beaufort. Typical milk production is 5700 kg per lactation. This breed of cattle is especially appreciated for its ability to withstand extreme variations in temperature, its fertility, its ease of breeding, its milk, its long life and its meat. Origins It comes from the Chablais in Haute-Savoie, where it was bred by the monks of the abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune since the 12th century. It was originally known as the chablaisienne. Distribution Currently, there are about 150,000 head of abondance in France. They have also been exported to North America, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Iraq and Africa. In West Africa, they have been cross bred with N'dama. 2-Armoricaine The Armoricaine or Armorican is an endangered French breed of domestic cattle. It originated in Brittany in the nineteenth century. It has a red coat with white markings, and has short horns. Armoricaine a small red-coated cow grazing by the sea Conservation status FAO (2007): critical Other names Armoricaine Country of origin France Distribution Brittany Use dual-purpose, meat and milk Traits Weight Female: 650 kg Height Female: 138 cm Skin colour pale Coat red with some white markings Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus Cows and calves History The Armoricaine was created in the nineteenth century by cross-breeding animals of the local Froment du Léon and the now-extinct Pie Rouge de Carhaix breeds with imported Durham (now known as Shorthorn) stock from the United Kingdom.A herd-book was started in 1919, and the Armoricaine breed name came into use in 1923. The Armoricaine was used, with Meuse-Rhine-Issel and Rotbunt stock, in the creation of the Pie Rouge des Plaines dairy breed of cattle in the 1960s. It has become rare: it was listed by the FAO as "critically endangered" in 2007. In 2005, the population was estimated at about 240 head, and in 2014 it was 263. Description The coat is red, with some white markings. The horns are short. Cows weigh about 650 kg, and stand about 138 cm at the withers. The Armoricaine is a dual-purpose breed, and may be raised both for meat and for milk. Cows produce about 4500 l of milk in a lactation of about 305 days. The young grow quickly, and mature animals fatten quickly. The Armorican cattle are a dual purpose breed of domestic cattle which are raised for both milk and meat production. It is an endangered breed from France and known as French:Armoricaine. It was actually originated in Brittany in the 19th century by cross-breeding animals of the local Froment du Léon and the now-extinct Pie Rouge de Carhaix breeds with imported Shorthorn stock from the United Kingdom. The name Armoricaine came into use in 1923, and a herdbook for the breed was started in 1919. In the 1960s, the breed was used with Meuse-Rhine-Issel and Rotbunt stock, in the creation of the Pie Rouge des Plaines dairy cattle breed. Currently the breed is pretty rare, and in 2007 the Armorican cattle breed was listed by the FAO as “critically endangered”. Total population of the breed was estimated at about 240 head in 2005, and was 263 in 2014. Currently the breed is mainly distributed in Brittany area of France. Read more information about the breed below. The Armorican cattle are medium sized animals. They usually have a red coat with white markings. Both bulls and cows usually have horns, and their horns are relatively short in size. Average body height of the cows is around 138 cm, and the bulls are pretty larger than the bulls. 3-The Aubrac is a French breed of domestic beef cattle. It originates on the Plateau de l'Aubrac in the Massif Central in central southern France, from which it also takes its name. It has a wheat-coloured coat and dark hooves, switch, muzzle and eyes. Aubrac a wheaten-coloured cow suckling a calf Cow and calf on the Plateau de l'Aubrac Conservation status FAO (2007): not at risk Country of origin France Distribution Auvergne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées Use meat Traits Weight Male: 950 kg Female: 650 kg Height Male: 140 cm Female: 129 cm Skin colour black Coat wheaten Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus The bull is darker in colour than the cows History The Aubrac originated in the early nineteenth century on the Plateau de l'Aubrac in the Massif Central, which spans the modern départements of the Aveyron, the Cantal and the Lozère, in the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie. Some limited cross-breeding took place in the twentieth century: with the Mézine, now extinct, 1935–1945; with the Maraîchine, 1945–1955; and with the Parthenaise, 1955–1975. The conservation status of the Aubrac is not at risk. In 2014 the population was reported at about 170 000 head. Characteristics The Aubrac is robust, frugal, fertile and long-lived, and is well adapted to the mountain environment of the Massif Central. It is reported to be resistant to trypanosomiasis, the "sleeping-sickness" transmitted by tsetse flies. The Aubrac has a uniformly wheaten coat, with black skin and black hooves, black muzzle, tongue, switch, and natural openings. Bulls may carry darker markings to the coat. The horns are lyre-shaped and tipped with black. Bulls stand about 140 cm at the withers and weigh about 950 kg; cows stand some 128 cm and weigh about 650 kg. Use The Aubrac is raised for principally for meat. Bullocks weigh about 310 kg when weaned. Some milk from Aubrac cows is used in the production of Laguiole cheese; it is hoped that this proportion may reach 10%. Origin: France. Developed in the 1600’s by the Benedictine monks of the mountainous Massif Central region Type: Meat. Flavor: Lean meat. Size: Medium to Large. Color: Light Brown. Horns: Medium. Temperament: “extremely docile”, “excellent temperament”… I should note that in their native country, the cattle are decorated with flowers and walked through the town and country once a year to their grazing grounds Notes: Good pasture production. Long-lived. Easy calving. Milk is used in cheese production. Only brought to the US in 1995. 4-The Bazadaise is a French breed of beef cattle. It takes its name from the town of Bazas in the département of the Gironde, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France, and originates in the low-lying areas to the south of the River Garonne near that town.A festival, the Fête des Boeufs Gras, is held each year in Bazas to present fattened Bazadaise stock. Bazadaisea lot large grey cow with down-turned horns Conservation status FAO (2007): not at risk Other names Bazadais Country of origin France Distribution Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées Traits Weight Male: average 1000 kg Female: average 750 kg Height Male: average 145 cm Female: average 140 cm Skin colour black Coat grey Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus History The Bazadaise is a traditional draught breed of the Pyrénées and the Gironde, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. It is thought to result from inter-breeding of local cattle of Aquitaine with others of Spanish origin. It is named for the town of Bazas in the Gironde, and is still strongly associated with it: an annual festival, the Fête des Boeufs Gras (fr), is held each year in Bazas to celebrate and present the Bazadaise and its meat, which is heavily marbled and renowned for its tenderness and flavour. A herd-book for the Bazadaise was established on 31 July 1896. The breed was formerly numerous: there were about 60 000 head in 1940. In the years after the Second World War, the mechanisation of agriculture and more extensive cultivation of cereal crops in the region both contributed to a rapid decline in numbers. By 1970 only 700 cows remained, and efforts to recover and conserve the breed began. In 2013 there were about 3400 cows, in more than 140 farms. The Bazadaise has been exported to Australia, Chile, Spain and the United Kingdom. Exported stock has been both raised pure-bred, and used for cross-breeding. Characteristics The Bazadaise is uni-coloured grey, with some variations due to sex and age. The skin is black, the muzzle and mucous areas pale. The horns are incurved and often down-turned; they are waxy yellow at the base, black at the tips. Use The Bazadaise was traditionally a draught breed, used for tasks such as hauling cut wood from the forest. It is now raised for beef. The meat is heavily marbled and is renowned for its tenderness and flavour. It may be marketed under the Label Rouge denominations "Boeuf de Bazas" and "Boeuf de Chalosse". Carcass yield is high; in bullocks, it is some 63–65%. 5-The Béarnaise is a French breed of domestic beef cattle. It originates in the area of the traditional province of Béarn, in the east of the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the northern Pyrénées in south-west France. It was merged with other breeds in 1920 to form the Blonde des Pyrénées, which in turn was fused with the Blonde de Quercy and Garonnaise breeds to create the Blonde d'Aquitaine in 1962. Béarnaise Conservation status FAO (2007): critical-maintained Other names Blonde des Pyrénées Basco-Béarnaise Basque: Bearnotar behia Spanish: Rubia de los Pirineos Country of origin France Distribution Aquitaine Use meat Traits Weight Male: 900 kg Female: 600 kg Height Female: 135 cm Skin colour white Coat wheaten Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus History The Béarnaise originated in the area of the traditional province of Béarn, in the east of the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the northern Pyrénées in south-western France. It was a triple-purpose breed, kept for its meat, for its milk, and as a draught animal. A herd-book was established in 1900. The Béarnaise was merged with several other local blonde breeds, including the extinct Basquiaise and Race d'Urt, to create the Blonde des Pyrénées (Spanish: Rubia de los Pirineos), for which the herd-book was started in 1920. The Blonde des Pyrénées was in turn merged with the Blonde de Quercy and Garonnaise breeds to create the Blonde d'Aquitaine in 1962. A small number of the original type of the Béarnaise survived in the Vallée d'Aspe, and from these the breed was re-constituted. A herd-book was begun in 1982, and a breeders' association was formed in 2003. The conservation status of the Béarnaise was listed by the FAO as "critical-maintained" in 2007. In 2010, 56 owners had a total of 223 cows. In 2014 the population was reported at 324 head. Characteristics The Béarnaise is wheat-coloured, varying from a dark fawn to white. It is heavily dewlapped, with long lyre-shaped horns. The skin and mucous membranes are pale, the surround of the eye phaeomelanic. It is well adapted to draught work and to the mountain environment of the Pyrénées. Use The Béarnaise was formerly a triple-purpose breed, kept for milk, for meat and for draught work. It was traditionally milked for only about six months; the milk was used to make mixed cows'-milk/sheep's-milk cheeses. Milk production is low, approximately 2000 in a lactation of 200 days. 6-The Betizu is a breed of feral cattle that is autochthonous to northern Spain and the French Basque Country. The breed enjoys protection status from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Feeding, and the French Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine [Conservatory of the Aquitaine Breeds]. Etymology The name betizu derives from the Basque behi izua: "elusive cow". Morphology Head and neck Thin, short, covered by abundant unruly hairs; expressive eyes surrounded by a light aureole; highly developed mane with slightly curved white horns (especially in females); short neck of medium thickness, characterized by an abundant dewlap; the upper line of the neck is straight in females and swayed in males. Body-trunk The thorax is more pronounced in males than in females. With slightly arched ribs, saddled and ascendant back, and a lumbar legion of poor muscular development. Hindquarters and tail The hindquarters are underdeveloped, showing the bony prominences. With an upper tailhead continued by a long tail. Thighs and buttocks Straight and underdeveloped Hooves and lower legs Medium length lower legs and well-developed joints. Small hard light-colored hooves. Skin, hair and mucosa Reddish-brown hair, with seasonal and gender variations; variations in color near the end of the feet, the nose, and the ocular aureole. Thick yellow-to-white skin with pink depigmented mucosa. Environment This animal lives in a free environment and its elusive behavior matches to these conditions. Dimensions Height between 1.1 to 1.3 metres (3.6 to 4.3 ft); weight from 325 kilograms (717 lb) in females to 450 kilograms (990 lb) in males History The betizu occupies a place in the mythology of the Basque people under the name of Zezengorri ("red bull"). It is found among the stories of other such animals as the behigorri, txahalgorri, ahatxegorri and idigorri which guard the caves in which are hidden the treasures of Mari. The betizu has also been known by different authors and in different locations as the "vaca del país", "casta navarra" and "raza vasca". José Miguel de Barandiarán has referred to it as the "vaca huraña". Populations As of 2013, the number of individual in Navarra was estimated at 254; while the numbers in Aquitaine were put at less than 150. Navarre reserve The Government of Navarre has launched a project to conserve this autochthonous breed. They own a herd that inhabits the abandoned village of Sastoya, in the Urraúl Alto valley. The stated goal of the project is to protect and expand this breed. The Sastoya village encompasses more than 80 hectares (200 acres), of which 12 hectares (30 acres) are grasslands. It is inside the area of Ecological Production and is property of the Government of Navarra. It is managed by their Environment Department. The facility includes several warehouses to manage the livestock. The Sastoya reservation houses about 45 animals. Reservation workers limit their contact with the animals in order to preserve their wild nature. The Betizu has recently become popular because a Basque language children´s program Betizu broadcast by ETB 1. The show aims to spread awareness of the animal and the conservation efforts ongoing on its behalf. 7-Bleue du Nord The Bleue du Nord is a French breed of dual-purpose cattle from the former region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais in the north-east of the country, on the border with Belgium. It shares the origins of the Belgian Blue, but unlike that breed is selectively bred both for meat and for dairy use. The "double-muscling" characteristic of the Belgian Blue, caused by a genetic myostatin deficiency, is present also in the Bleue du Nord, but to a limited and controlled extent. Bleue du Nord head of a white cow with blue-grey markings Cow at the Salon de l'Agriculture, Paris 2010 Conservation status FAO (2007): endangered-maintained Country of origin France Distribution Nord-Pas-de-Calais Traits Weight Male: average 1150 kg Female: average 700 kg Height Male: average 142 cm Female: average 135 cm Coat white, black pied, blue roan pied Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus History Like many European breeds, the Bleue du Nord derives from cross-breeding of local dairy stock with animals of the Durham breed – what would later be called the Shorthorn – imported from Britain. From about 1850, in the historic region of Hainaut on the border between France and Belgium, the Durham was crossed with dairy cattle of Dutch Friesian type with the aim of combining the growth rate of the former with the dairy qualities of the latter. Breeding was initially directed towards dairy use. Both the Bleue du Nord and the Belgian Blue descend from this stock. By the end of the nineteenth century the Bleue du Nord was widespread in the region. Numbers fell drastically during the First World War, and by 1930 there were no more than 50 000 head. After the Second World War, the policy of Edmond Quittet, the Inspecteur général de l'agriculture (fr), was to reduce the diversity of French breeds. The herd-book of the Bleue du Nord was closed in 1953. From about 1960, breeding of the Belgian Blue – known in France as the Blanc-Bleu – concentrated heavily on beef production and on the "double-muscling" characteristic. A small number of French breeders continued to raise the older dual-purpose type. A new herd-book for the Bleue du Nord was opened in or 1998. In 2007 the conservation status of the Bleue du Nord was listed by the FAO as "endangered-maintained". In 2014 the total population was reported as 1490. It is distributed mainly in the cantons of Avesnes-sur-Helpe, Bavay, Le Quesnoy, Maubeuge and Valenciennes in the former region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais – now part of Hauts-de-France – in the north-east of the country, on the border with Belgium. In 2008 an international project of co-operation began to co-ordinate exchange of breeding stock between the Bleue du Nord of France and the closely similar Bleu Mixte of Belgium – the surviving remnant of dual-purpose Belgian Blue. Characteristics The Bleue du Nord may be black-and-white pied, blue-and-white pied, or white. The muzzle and mucous areas are dark. The horns are white at the base, black at the tips. The cattle are docile and easily managed. They are frugal, robust and resistant, and well adapted to the cold and damp conditions of their native area. The Mf gene, which causes the myostatin deficiency that results in the "double-muscling" or "culard" characteristic typical of the Belgian Blue breed, is present in some 10–20% of the breeding population of the Bleue du Nord. To maintain genetic diversity, a number of bulls not homozygous for the Mf gene are selected each year as donors for artificial insemination. Use The Bleue du Nord has been selectively bred to maintain both its abilities as a dairy breed and its qualities as a beef breed. Milk yield is lower than in specialised dairy breeds. It is variously reported as 4853 kg in 292 days; as 5350 in a standard lactation of 300 days; and as 6108 . The record for the breed is 10 795 kg in one lactation. The meat is tender and low in fat. 8-The Blonde d'Aquitaine is a modern French breed of large domestic beef cattle. It was created in 1962 by merging three blonde draught breeds of south-western France, the Blonde des Pyrénées, the Blonde de Quercy and the Garonnaise. Since about 1970 it has been selectively bred specifically for beef production. It is the third-most numerous beef breed of France, after the Charolais and the Limousin. It has been exported to many countries round the world. Blonde d'Aquitaine a large cream-coloured bull Bull at Agriflanders in 2007 Conservation status FAO (2007): not at risk! Country of origin France Distribution worldwide Use meat Traits Weight Male: 1400 kg Female: 1050 kg Height Male: 165 cm Female: 155 cm Skin colour white Coat wheaten Horn status horned in both sexes Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus On summer pasture near the Pic du Midi d'Ossau History The Blonde d'Aquitaine breed was created in 1962 by merging three blonde breeds of south-western France, the Blonde de Quercy, the Garonnaise and the Blonde des Pyrénées. All three were principally draught breeds. The Garonnaise had been numerous in Aquitaine – 400 000 head were recorded in 1880; a herd-book was started in 1898. The Blonde des Pyrénées was itself an amalgam of several other breeds, including the Béarnaise, the Race d'Urt, and the Basquiaise; its herd-book was started in 1920, the same year as that of the Blonde de Quercy. The Blonde d'Aquitaine includes almost all the traditional blonde cattle breeds of southern France, although remnant populations of a few of them have allowed them to be reconstituted. The moving force behind the creation of the breed was Raphaël Trémouille, a veterinary surgeon and member of the lower chamber of the French parliament. From about 1970, concerted efforts were made to improve the beef production attributes of the breed. The Blonde d'Aquitaine is the third beef breed of France by numbers, after the Charolais and the Limousin. In 2013 there were about 560 000 head in more than 18 000 farms. Characteristics The Blonde d'Aquitaine is wheat- or cream-coloured, varying from a dark to very light fawn; the surround of the eyes and the area round the muzzle is paler. The skin is white, and the muzzle and mucous areas pale. Use The Blonde d'Aquitaine is raised exclusively for beef, whether purebred or cross-bred. Bullocks reach almost 300 kg at 210 days, and about 500 kg at 15 months. Carcass yield is about 65%. 9-The Bordelaise (aka La race Bordelaise; Bordelais in English) originated in the marshes of Gironde near Bordeaux. It is a variety Breton cattle that was founded during the 1800’s — with the mixing of the Breton Black Pied and Dutch cattle that had been imported during the 1700’s. The Bordelaise was almost driven to extinction by the importation and use of Dutch-Friesians during the 1900’s. A small herd is currently being kept on a Conservatoire found in the suburbs of Bordeaux, near Bruges. 10-The Bretonne Pie Noir is breed of small dairy cattle from Brittany in north-western France. It originates from Cornouaille and the Pays de Vannes in the départements of Finistère and Morbihan. Due to its small size, modest requirements, good productivity and ability to exploit poor and marginal terrain, it was well suited to traditional Breton agriculture. A herdbook was established in 1886. The breed was in the past numerous; at the beginning of the twentieth century there were about 500,000. Numbers fell drastically during that century, and in 1976, when about 15,000 remained, a breed conservation plan was begun, the first such for any breed of cattle. Bretonne pie noir two black and white cows in a field Bretonne Pie Noir cows Conservation status FAO (2007): not listed Other names Morbihan Country of origin France Distribution Brittany Use dairy Traits Weight Male: 600 kg Female: 450 kg Height Male: 123 cm Female: 117 cm Coat pied black and white Horn status horned Cattle Bos primigenius An a typically dark Breton Pie Noir bull Characteristics The Bretonne Pie Noir is pied black and white; a red pied variant disappeared during the twentieth century. Height at the withers averages 123 cm for males, 117 cm for females; average weight is 600 kg for bulls, 450 kg for cows. Use The milk yield of the Bretonne Pie Noir is about 3500 kg per lactation. The milk has 4.4% fat and 3.4% protein.