Auerrind update #3

The Auerrind project is really progressing quickly at the moment; now, Claus Kropp has announced that three young bulls have been moved to another new conservation area named Senne und Teutoburger Wald in Germany. The three young bulls are the Sayaguesa x Chianina and the two young Sayaguesa x Hungarian Grey bulls. 

Sayaguesa x Chianina (left) plus two Sayaguesa x Hungarian Grey young bulls (© www.auerrind.wordpress.com)

The half-Chianina bull is already recognizably larger than the half-Hungarian Grey bulls - this can also mean that it just grows faster, but considering that Chianina are a few decimeters larger than Hungarian Grey on average it is likely that it will remain taller than the others. I think its coat looks like it is about to show its final colour. What is interesting is that Sayaguesa x Chianina bulls can show the full spectrum of an almost white colour to a perfect aurochs colour (this bull seems to be somewhere in between), what is unexpected since both breeds are stable in colour alleles so that F1 cross should actually be more or less uniform. I expect the Sayaguesa x Chianina to grow pretty large and have a long-legged, well-shaped body. It is interesting that the half-Hungarian Grey bulls have a perfect or nearly perfect aurochs colour expressed. I am curious on what their horns will be like as regards to shape and size. 

If someone would ask me what I would breed the Sayaguesa x Chianina to, my answer is clear: females of the same combination, as true F2 Sayaguesa x Chianina has the potential for really large, well-shaped and well-proportioned animals with the right colour and a good horn curvature (so almost the complete package) that is at least a bit stable. Another interesting option would be (Sayaguesa x Chianina) x (Sayaguesa x Watussi), but there is no cow of the latter combination yet. 

I will keep you updated with the recent developments of the Auerrind project.