The largest Taurus bull

How large are Taurus cattle? Several individuals have been measured. The first Taurus bull that was measured was Lucio, the first Heck x Sayaguesa bull. He was 160-165cm tall at the withers. This was the only measurement for a Taurus individual until I visited the Lippeaue in 2015. I took a yardstick with me and we measured a couple more individuals. Two cows were measured 153-155 cm at the shoulders, both cows had average size compared to the other individuals. The cow Larissa is noticeable larger than both, so that she might be 160cm tall at the withers. The bull Linnet is about the same size as Bionade (the cow measured 155cm at the withers), so he should be about 155cm tall as well. 

As for the largest bull on the site, 42 623, we have no direct measurement but an indirect one. When standing next to the large Sayaguesa cow Dona-Urraca, he almost dwarfed her, so we already knew that he has to be very tall. We then measured the distance between a metal bar of a cage that he was able to touch with his withers and the ground, so that we could infer his size. It was 173cm, so that the bull is at least 170cm tall at the withers. It is thus the largest Taurus bull measured, and the largest “breeding-back” bull in general. 

42 623, the largest Taurus bull (Sayaguesa x (Heck x Chianina)), photographed in the Lippeaue in 2017

170cm is a very satisfying size as it represents the average bull aurochs size for the Holocene according to van Vuure 2005. Also, it makes it bigger than most primitive cattle breeds. With these measurements, Margret Bunzel-Drüke and I concluded that the average size for Taurus bulls is between 150 and 170 cm, and for cows 150 cm, making Taurus cattle the largest cattle in Central Europe. Heck cattle are only 140-145 and 130-135cm tall, thus the attempt to achieve an aurochs-like size range by crossing-in large and very large breeds was successful. 

42 623 is a cross between Churro, the Sayaguesa bull, and Ludovica, a Heck x Chianina cow.