Tuesday 22 October 2013

Aurochs-like cattle breeds: An overview


Of course Heck cattle is not the only aurochs-like cattle breed, not at all. But how many are there? This depends on where you draw the line. Compared with water buffalo, even Austrian Fleckvieh is “aurochs-like”. Therefore, this categorization is purely arbitrary. With the selection down below, I want to present you a list of breeds which have more than just a single aurochs-like feature (like a high-legged slender body in Chianina or huge thick horns in Watussi), but a good representation of several primitive traits. I was also struggling with myself about making a split between “phenotypically aurochs-like”, “ecologically aurochs-like” and “genetically aurochs-like” (also because sometimes I am accused of being too appearance-based), but this turns out to be very complicated. How to define and measure “ecologically aurochs-like”, including traits such as hardiness, heat/cold tolerance and food needs? There are no living aurochs that can be used as a model, and there are certainly regional differences in ecological requirements as well. The same as with genetics: there is simply not enough data (yet) to make such a list. It seems that the appearance of the cattle is the only really quantifiable aspect for such a list. Furthermore, it is questionable if such a split would be useful at all, because most, if not all, of the optically aurochs-like breeds are very hardy and robust and would be on the other list as well.

Curraleiro bull from Brazil

So here it is, my top 32 of the aurochs-like cattle on this world, roughly in alphabetical order (click on the breed if you want to see how they look like):


* I only include advanced Hecks here (like Taurus cattle, the Wörth lineage, or herds at Hellabrunn or Solling-Vogler), because many of the usual Hecks are IMO not really worth mentioning here.

Sykia cattle from Greece
You might be wondering why there are only taurine cattle on the list. Well, I would include zebuine cattle here if I was aware of a breed that bears a good resemblance to the aurochs not only in one aspect like in the miniature zebu (colour) or Watussi (horns).
Very likely there are also some quite aurochs-like cattle in the Near East and North Africa, but those are virtually inaccessible to me except a few photos. Cattle from those regions tend to be small as well. 


13 comments:

  1. Dear Daniel, Thank you very much for such good survey, but I don't see Grey Ukrainian, which is not only "phenotipically auroch-like", but as well "ecologically". Our scientist of the beginning of the century O.O.Brauner compared bones of auroch and Grey Ukrainian and found, that they are very similar, almost identical.

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  2. Iberian Fighting cattle or Spanish Fighting cattle is actually just as Portuguese as Spanish (it´s just the Spanish version that gets nearly all the publicity though), so maybe we should say that it comes from Iberia, right?
    I have read also your opinion/post about Lidia and that aspect surfaced once again...
    Actually it´s not even clear from where it first was bred, if in Portugal or in Spain, but some people suggest that they were bred at around the same time in both countries.
    I also noticed that you edited the part on which I think that you directed a interesting suggestion to both Portuguese and Spanish breeders of Lidia/Raça Brava to be aware of conservation of the old types still present in this breed, but now I see that also seemingly disappeared...



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    Replies
    1. Bull bullfighting is an animal obtained by genetic crossings and very artificial selections seeking aggression, not the purity of the breed, so it has no characteristics at all natural and its appearance is not similar to that of the auroch. Initially as fighting bulls bulls were used some bulls that grew in total freedom, practically wild, very aggressive and of small stature, as is Monchina bull. From 1850 until 1930 it was used bulls of great size without similarity to the uro. At the moment it is a totally artificial bull obtained by genetic crossings looking for aggressiveness and selecting only the aggressive specimens, without similarity with the auroch. In Iberia there are several bovine races very similar to auroch, which were used until 1960 for work and currently for meat, such as: Alistano Sanabresa, Limia, Vianesa, Mirandesa, Maronesa, Sayaguesa and Pajunawas selected two artificial breeds obtained by genetic crossings seeking aggressiveness. The current fighting bulls have no physical resemblance to the aurochs. In Iberia if there are several bovine races very similar to uros, which were used for work and currently for meat, such as: Alistano Sanabresa, Limia, Vianesa, Mirandesa, Maronesa, Sayaguesa and Pajuna.
      Of these bovine breeds the closest to the auroch are, perhaps, the Pajuna and the Limia

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    2. I'm sorry but this comment seems rather confused or is at least confusing.
      So you're saying Lidia is not "aurochs-like" because it was bred for aggression? Well, those breeds you listed were bred for agreeableness and trainability as draft breeds, for example. They are comparably docile, at least compared to a wild bovine. This is not "natural" either. So either fighting cattle are aurochs-like or no breed is aurochs-like.
      Each domestic breed is artificial, by the way.

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  3. Maronesa beef is the "best beef in the world", according to an - unofficial - international competition:
    https://www.publico.pt/2020/07/31/local/noticia/vaca-maronesa-melhor-carne-mundo-segundo-competicao-nao-oficial-internacional-1926626
    https://boisimo.gciencia.com/2020/07/23/a-maronesa-de-portugal-gana-o-mundial-oficioso-da-carne-de-vacun-disputado-en-ames/
    https://boisimo.gciencia.com/2020/02/03/dieta-galega-para-as-mellores-vacas-do-mundo/

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  4. Some videos about the Aurochs, etc. (I):
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxdw7CCK7Vw
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRwbpJryfnc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2thcmlV_VJI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pwgBjhrPLk
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmRs31tJn7s
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJ12OEbOow
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkjgiWDtYdc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nAJ7TSeLkE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpZwBgJMAKI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcKBmJelq5I
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDoLkGObxZI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOAF9DeOfBY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnlB_W4Nd5o
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVes2qt2Zc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsA9ceTSrI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8jMVt3pk0E
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNOuUMKnCcE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG_qXWK_cXs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGXQchJozZE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMv9TtEjVRg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePoIu7vWI7Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjIaKtlLAFc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaUCQ0IKOBY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTkeI7__gw8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq-_Aa4JJ60
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD6DuO3feCg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrpsZ8d4TCY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHOQR3Fjv0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YMJdUG4f-8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXIbUIj1hBU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6QBHh5tdio
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqGB_hhsSlo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBup6GTH2Dk
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipCkNUZXMXc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPfYMClYyCY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2muixiiEr4
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVaddsseE90
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0kpGGHvTKM

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    Replies
    1. Some videos about the Aurochs, etc. (II):
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dli7C3i4sPo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPGuKjI5NhU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc9_Mjp4Ldk
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9u7I_AKajY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cjljAiYo_A
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eKpMHsgfZw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZK-aAhaHV8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6QBHh5tdio
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG_qXWK_cXs
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGXQchJozZE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMv9TtEjVRg
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxdw7CCK7Vw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmRs31tJn7s
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_EPW59Crdo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPCJql5L4OU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cu0vZMw4lU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccXd73nXAPU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3DSVHbwtws
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJ12OEbOow
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbqh7cTex5Y
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LPw7m0Op30
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2thcmlV_VJI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgVNUN7IQXo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8XMdt2zaqM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2I0p8uhn-0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1o-6PWppq0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vieDhYDP_HI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpltmG26M9Y
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQ0gXKIL10
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKIwnmyzXnw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZiIrwNM1g
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2siR06ECt2U
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUS8vmKo3K0

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    2. Some videos about the Aurochs, etc. (III):
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXdSI7m81x0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRfKsaYYTjE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUoEbv7P-O0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73s6dFgqx4k
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxcqicA588I
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HE5kw7Bamo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKBtga2s8s
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3eQykYL18s
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMIKoBumr9s
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5JQzguKEoI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1DeHh759XM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NT7o8kE3UE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akts7wc5Am0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_LnlJ7GUrg
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbXPk2uw_8o
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2mW8g9YnHU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z37WbETTFEw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3KELWuRRc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UThSsDEfjs
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8naqHeZ8OM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inGgtGOKokc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjZKoJ8510w
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix9VcX-4bjI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gONI87-b9fc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53F6YQdD3Vk
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKjFTJ9j7OM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJqjQNFmNE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivj2IDJfyb4
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYDEzUJVBDI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i5LKj_RNcA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acoCI3xO7wQ
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly91GPGmcF0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSzWndKZ9vY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acoCI3xO7wQ
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RBRANK1cYo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWgBVVggR4o
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuDWiAwRTsE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_fzF0NQ8uY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDTJkt-qwK0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK6dnLHHznI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuLSROYuMa0

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    3. Hi Daniel!
      Congratulations on your Blog!
      I had to split this into 4 parts, because you couldn't post it all together in your blog comments!
      I've already published 3 parts, but I'm missing part IV of the links to videos about Aurochs, etc.

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    4. Some videos about the Aurochs, etc. (IV):
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8mcMWXVs2c
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u52-54yr5aU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuI5DoLP4ho
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkyJrtm47Dc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lbTVanGiPY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ja9LLBB_IA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjwdNnjqGJU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8clY-wKQuJk
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wOBxzVXTg
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWjfBI_JAvU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXAirenteRA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56Z4GIf3XY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3rgdHiDN7U
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSy2253NQw0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilnfC1LIBj8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8naqHeZ8OM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RLtC1Fnk-k
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94CxTV-7qfs
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6-Pfkojic
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWxAQns-7mM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcmmAhgTP-8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV1weeEf9r8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsrjPTZUqm8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P2qSo6ok2k
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_8K1RDFNUI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdcZ0r_2h_Q
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjx8ZQeg4dM
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5eIs04VZEE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg7Zzba1ulA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1ml2M9kO2U
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKETBRibH4w
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC_GqrdscVg
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMWrXkLGCwA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKhIYJOKBYc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8mcMWXVs2c
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRdK4dpjSw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HNzIT97Rao
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynQ4CDwvW9M
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pk3HOehG0k
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMWrXkLGCwA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joc8UDjNRmU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EZgNe2zZYo
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6TnWW1s4hE
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmiTW5F_aMc
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDoLkGObxZI
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Xk3MVmvjs
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fDCQXezJb4
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxdw7CCK7Vw
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=almO2Ypp964
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6HMtvzkfY
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR_ZEuxjTv0
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg2tVKvKp1A
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyVkvhTZBfA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkat-NdL2Tg
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJfDhMdCqug
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_ubF1lUdAA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMu_vigawyM

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  5. In the mountains of Northern Portugal, I could see Barrosa, Maronesa, Cachena, Mirandesa. Without a doubt, the Maronesa looks the most like aurochs. Yet there is variability in the breed. Only a part of them look very close to aurochs, same horns, same colour, same look. But they are not as tall as aurochs. Medium size cows are better suited to mountains and poor quality pasture. The 4 breeds are renowned for high quality meat.

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  6. The Barrosa is used for bull fighting. One bull versus another bull. The bulls have short heads, like the Herens bulls. Their horns are huge. They are easy to handle. They are not as brave as Herens breed. If you want to see them in action, type "chega de bois" on youtube.

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  7. A video featuring axaquia cattle
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdsa3F3bWM
    look at the bull at 3:32

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