Breeds of Cows Directory: "W": Wagyu - White Park
Information contained here is summarized from many different sources. Please refer to those sources for complete information. Major contributors are Oklahoma State University, Coroba University of Spain, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Domestic Animal Diversity Program of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Google Images and Wikipedia| Wagyu |
| Links: Oklahoma State University |
 What are they? Where did they come from?
The word Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle ('Wa' means Japanese or japanese-style and 'gyu' means cattle).Most of the cattle were influenced by British and Continental breeds for a few generations nearly 100 years ago. Brown Swiss, Shorthorn, Devon, Simmental, Ayrshire, Korean, Holstein and Angus had been imported by 1887 and impacted today's Wagyu. Crossbreeding was prominent for several years, but when the price of crossbreds collapsed in 1910 no further crossbreeding was conducted. The result was selection for specific traits determined by region and extensive linebreeding was used to achieve those traits. The dominant black Wagyu strains are Tottori, Tajima, Shimane, and Okayama. Tajima cattle, bred in the Tajima region, were originally chosen and bred for their heavy forequarters because their primary use was to pull carts. They tend to be smaller and less heavily muscled than the Tottori breed. Tottori cattle, because they were used as pack animals for the grain industry of the Tottori region, were selected for their size and strength of topline. The other main "breed" of Wagyu, was developed on the island of Kyushu and are red in color. As with the blacks, there are two distinct strains-Kochi and Kumamoto. Kochi cattle were strongly influenced by Korean breeding while Kumamoto are believed to have considerable Simmental influence. The original import of these cattle to the U.S. in 1976 consisted of two Tottori Black Wagyu and two Kumamoto Red Wagyu bulls. That was the only importation of Wagyu into the U.S. until 1993 when two male and three female Tajima cattle were imported and 1994 when 35 male and female cattle consisting of both red and black genetics reached the U.S. [Oklahoma State University] |
| Welsh Black |
| Links: Oklahoma State University |
 Origins
The Welsh Black is a native British Breed descended
from cattle of Pre-Roman Britain in the rough mountain and hill country
of Wales. Originally there were two distinct strains of Welsh Blacks,
both known as a dual purpose animal; the compact sturdy North Wales type
and the bigger, rangier South Wales type. The successful intermingling
of these types over the past 90 years has resulted in an optimum sized
animal with an emphasis on beef production. The unique traits of the
breed are a result of this heredity and environment.The Welsh Blacks are now established throughout the U.K. and have proven themselves from Canada to New Zealand. Welsh Blacks first arrived in Canada in 1970 via the U.S.A. and further direct importations have followed. They are present in nine provinces and many U.S. states, with a concentration of breeders in Alberta. Welsh Blacks offer the commercial cattleman a profitable alternative for herd improvement. The Welsh Black Options Welsh Black offers the following options to the purebred breeder and the commercial cross breeding cattleman to aid in a progressive and profitable breeding program. Black The majority of Welsh Blacks are horned, and black, varying from rusty black to jet black, with some white permitted on the underline behind the navel. Red The red recessive gene occasionally appears in a black herd and without exception breeds true. The red animal has no black genes and a red bull on a red cow will produce a red calf. Polled There are naturally polled Welsh Blacks available in increasing numbers, both Black and Red. [Oklahoma State University] |
| West Coast Fjord, Westland Horned, Western fjord cattle see Vestland Fjord |
| Western Red Polled Cattle, West Coast Red Polled, Westland Polled see Vestland Red Polled |
| White Cáceres, Also Known As: Blanca guadianese, Blanca Cacereña |
| Links: Oklahoma State University |
 The
White Cáceres was developed in the region surrounding Extremadura in
Spain and used primarily for meat production. They are one of the lyre
horned breeds and are nearly extinct. In an effort to preserve this
breed the Ministry of Agriculture selected a herd consisting of 30 cows
and 2 bulls which is maintained at the artificial insemination center in
Badajoz.
The females average 134 cm in height and weigh
approximately 450 kg. The males are slightly larger at 140 cm in height
and 670 kg.[Oklahoma State University] |
| White Park, Historically Known by: Park, White Forest, White Horned, Wild White |
| Links: Oklahoma State University |
 The
White Park is a horned cattle breed which is white with colored points.
These points include the ears, nose, rims of eyes, teats and feet but
excludes the tail switch. The upper portion of the tongue should be
black while underneath is most often pink. The intensity of these
markings varies from herd to herd. The White Park is now considered a
beef breed and selected for those traits but historically they were
considered dual purpose since some herds have been used for milk
production. It is reported to be well adapted to non-intensive
production systems.
The White Park is not closely related to the British
White or American White Park. Although all three of these breeds share a
common color scheme the White Park is very genetically distinct from
the other two breeds. This same color patterns is sometimes expressed in
other breeds such as the Berrenda, N'guni, BON and Texas Longhorn.White cattle with colored points are first mentioned in old Irish sagas dating back almost 2,000 years. They are later found again in Welsh law which was formulated at Dynevwr Castle in Deheubarth by a series of rulers from 856 to 1197 AD. The Dynevor herd dates to this time. The Chartley and Chillingham herds of England and the Cadzow herd in Scotland date to the mid-thirteenth century when herds in England and Scotland were enclosed in hunting chases. Writers of the time differed as to the origin of the herds. Some contended they were brought to Britain while others, including the famed authority Rev. John Storer, believed they were the direct descendants of the Wild White Bull that roamed the forests which once covered the British Isles. In the early 1800's, at the time of Storer's writing, there were more than a dozen pure White Park herds though most were exterminated by the turn of the century. Of the six ancient herds remaining, the best known is the Chillingham herd. The registration program for While Park cattle was started in the early 1900s, but lapsed with the outbreak of World War II in the 1940's. At that stage only the Dynevor, Woburn, Whipsnade and Cadzow herds survived as domesticated herds, and the Chillingham and Vaynol as semi-feral herds. When the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed in Britain in 1973 these remaining herds were given the communal name "White Park". In the late 1930s one or two pairs of White Park cattle were imported to Canada. Their offspring eventually made its way to the Bronx Zoo. A tale persists that these cattle were taken out of Britain to America to save a national treasure. Sources vary on their views of this events with some stating it was purely a business transaction. Shortly after receiving the White Park cattle, the Bronx Zoo determined they did not have facilities to house the wild cattle for the long term. The zoo contacted the King Ranch and a deal was made which allowed four of the animals to be moved to Texas where they remained for nearly 40 years. When the White Park herd was to be sold it was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. John Moeckly of Polk City, Iowa. In the 1970's, White Park cattle were imported to both Canada and the US and semen from Dynevr bulls has been imported to both countries also. In 1988 a small portion of the herd was sold to the Seed Saver's Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. Shortly hereafter all but a few old cows were sold to the B-Bar ranch in Big Timber, Montana, along with the White Park registry. The last remnant of the herd, made up of the aged females, was sold to Mark Fields of Clark, Missouri. In 1995 there were five herds across North America. Currently the breed is found in Britain, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Australia and Canada. The current status of the White Park is Critical with a breeding population of less than 50 animals in the US and a worldwide population, including its homeland of Great Britain, of approximately 500 purebred females in 79 herds, plus bulls and young stock. The White Park cattle in the United States have been DNA typed for purity and to determine the best breeding plan possible to save its genetic base. An on-going breeding program has been put into place to help ensure the breed's survival. The White Park is genetically far distant from all British breeds and this has been established by blood typing. The breeds that appear to be most closely related to the White Park are the Highland and Galloway of Scotland. The White Park is a medium-size animal with mature bulls in working condition weighing approximately 2100 pounds and cows 1400 pounds. Their value in the beef industry lies in the high quality of their meat and in their great genetic distance from other breeds which will increase the heterosis effects in crossbreeding systems. For More Information: Ancient White Park Cattle Society of North America, 1273 Otter Creek Road, Big Timber, M [Oklahoma State University] |
This
is a non-commercial rare breed with a registered population of 100
heifer (2 years and younger) and 214 cows as of January 1995.
The Vestland Fjord can be horned or polled, multicoloured dual
purpose cow that is common to the fjord area of Western Norway. It is
short-legged and small-boned. It is the smallest of the native Norwegian
breeds. It is a relatively efficient milk yielder for its size,
producing approximately 4000 kg a year on a high roughage diet. Live
weight is approximately 400 kg. Semen reserves in 1995 was 15,331 units
(20 bulls).
The
Vestland Red Polled is a non-commercial breed with a registered
population of 71 heifers (2 years and younger) and 218 cows as of
January 1995.
It is a naturally polled, red dual purpose cow found
along the west coast of Norway. It is short-legged and small-boned, but a
relatively efficient milk yielder for its size, producing approximately
4000 kg per year on a high roughage diet. Live weight is 400-500 kg.
Semen reserves in 1995 were 13,848 units (15 bulls).
This
breed is a native of the Vosges Mountains, principally in Alsace.
Vosges cattle are exceptionally healthy, fertile and long-lived, milk
production at the age of fifteen is not unusual. The Vosges was
originally a working breed that was transformed into a dairy type.
The origin of the breed traces back to the 17th
century, when Swedish soldiers brought Scandinavian cattle into the
region after the Thirty Years War. The breed was at the height at the
beginning of the 20th century (1914: 125,000 cows), but was strongly
affected by World Wars I and II and then the pressure of other breeds.
(1976: less than 3 000 cows).
The
Sahiwal originated in the dry Punjab region which lies along the
Indian-Pakistani border. They were once kept in large herd by
professional herdsmen called "Junglies". However with the introduction
of irrigation to the region they began to be kept in smaller numbers by
the farmers of the region, who used them as draft and dairy animals.
The Sahiwal is one of the best dairy breeds in India and
Pakistan. It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high
resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270
kg of milk during a lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk
yields have been recorded. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk
production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as
Africa and the Caribbean. As oxen they are generally docile and
lethargic, making them more useful for slow work.
This
is one of the last European breeds to be imported into North America,
the Salers(Sa'lair) breed has made tremendous strides in growth and is
now an influential part of the American cattle industry. Currently, the
breed is registering over 28,400 head per year and is growing at a
phenomenal rate each year. At a time when most breeds are registering
fewer numbers, the Salers breed is continuing to increase by producing
profit oriented cattle for the industry.
The historical journey for the Salers breed, was first
recorded by archaeologists as depicted from ancient drawings in cave
dwellings dated some 7,000 years ago. The drawings were found near
Salers, a small medieval town in the center of France. These drawings
and the Salers cattle of today, which are very different from all other
French breeds, bear some resemblance to the ancient Egyptian red cattle.
The Lean Beef Answer!
The
Sanhe are milk/meat dual-purpose cattle. They are the product of
long-time selection and crossbreeding between native Mongolian cattle
and exotic breeds such as the Simmental and Shorthorn. They originated
on the grasslands in the northeast of Inner Mongolia.
The noticeable characteristic of Sanhe cattle is the
adaptability to the adverse environment where the temperature gets as
low as -50 degrees Celsius. During a severe winter a monthly average
temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. The grassland is completely
covered with snow for about 200 days and the grass-growing season is
limited to five months in a year. Cows usually drink ice water during
the winter, and are exposed to direct sunlight with an air temperature
as high as 35 degrees Celsius during the summer. Sanhe cattle can also
stand harsh feeding and resist insect bites.
King
Ranch Santa Cruz cattle represent more than seven years of intense
research and development aimed at creating a more market acceptable beef
animal that produced superior results as both a feeder and seedstock
animal. The new cattle are a composite breed, produced by first crossing
Santa Gertrudis cows with Red Angus and Gelbvieh bulls. This initial
union produces 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Red Angus males and females;
as well as 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Gelbvieh males and females. These
half bloods are then crossed back on each other to produce a 1/2 Santa
Gertrudis, 1/4 Red Angus and 1/4 Gelbvieh composite animal, the finished
product. This is King Ranch Santa Cruz, as composites are then bred to
composites, fixing the characteristics desired in the cattle and
demanded by today's beef market.
Stephen J. Kleberg, Vice President of King Ranch, Inc.
said that King Ranch Santa Cruz cattle have “excellent conformation,
perform extremely well in the feedyard, and obtain maximum results at
the packing plant.” Hal Hawkins, King Ranch animal physiologist,
described the cattle as "very fertile, both male and female, reaching an
early sexual maturity at 12 - 14 months of age. Weaning and yearling
weights are excellent, and they are very gentle cattle that demonstrate
good mothering instincts."
About
1910 the King Ranch of Kingville, Texas, one of the largest ranches in
the United States, became interested in the possibilities of using
Brahman cattle to improve the performance of the range cattle in their
area. Tom O'Connor, who obtained some Bos indicus cattle from the Pierce
Ranch in Pierce, Texas, gave a half blood Shorthorn-Brahman bull to the
King Ranch. He was mated with a group of purebred Shorthorn females.
All male calves from this cross but one, a red bull called Chemmera,
were castrated and the heifers were turned out with Shorthorn bulls. In
the fall of 1918 about sixty descendants of the O'Connor bull and his
son were placed in a high quality pasture and their performance was such
that the Kings Ranch became interested in crossbreeding Shorthorns and
Brahmans.
Since no purebred Brahmans were available, the King
Ranch secured fifty-two of the best three-year-old bulls that they could
obtain from the Pierce herd. These bulls were three-fourths and
seven-eighths Brahman. The bulls were divided among eight different
herds with a total of approximately 2,500 Shorthorn cows. Two bulls were
specifically selected and pasture mated to fifty cows each. These bulls
were referred to as the "Chiltipin" bull and the "Vinotero" bull. One
of the females in the Vinotero bull's group was a milk cow with
one-sixteenth Brahman blood that she carried as a descendant of the
O'Connor bull through his son Chemmera. The result of this mating was a
bull called Monkey, who became the foundation sire of the Santa
Gertrudis. All present day Santa Gertrudis descend from Monkey.
The
San Martinero is found in Meta and Caqueta provinces of central
Columbia. They are of Crillo type and are similar to the Consteño con
Cuernos but have better confirmation. San Martinero cattle are usually
beige, yellow-red or chestnut.
San Martinero were bred for weigh gain and milk yield. They are among the heaviest muscled of the Crillo breeds. 
The
Sarabi is found in Iran and Azerbaijan. They are used for both diary
and meat production. Individuals of this breed are typically red.
In
the 1800s N'Dama Cattle were imported to the Caribbean Island of St.
Croix from Senegal, West Africa. By 1889, Henry C. Nelthropp's Grenard
Estates was one of the largest N'Dama breeders with over 250 head which
he maintained as purebreds. Nelthropp's son, Bromley, wanted to develop a
strain of cattle that would combine the traits needed for good
productions in the tropical Virgin Island environment. In 1918, while
visiting the island of Trinidad, Bromley purchased a Red Poll bull to
improve the milking ability, fertility and remove the horns of the
N'Dama.
That bull and other Red Poll genetics were added over
the next several years as Nelthropp selected for: 1) early maturity and
maternal efficiency, 2) no horns and solid red color, 3) definite heat
tolerance, and 4) gentle disposition. By the mid forties the desired
genetic combination of Red Poll and N'Dama was achieved and the Senepol
breed has been bred as fullblood ever since. The Nelthropp herd was
dispersed to local breeders and the Senepol breed grew into four primary
island herds. Ward Cannaday and Fritz E. Lawaetz maintained genetic
records and eventually trademarked the Senepol name in 1954. Having
established a herd book, the breed adopted an on-farm performance
testing program through the USDA and the College of the Virgin Islands
Extension Service in 1976. In 1977 the first plane load of cattle left
for the U.S. mainland; 17 years later the Senepol influence has spread
across the southern United States.
Shetland
cattle closely resemble the Jersey, Canadian and Breton breed in
conformation but Shetlands are Scandinavian in origin. They remained
pure until the mid-1800s when small numbers of Shorthorn, Angus and
Highland cattle were introduced to the Shetland Islands. In the 1920s,
Friesian cattle were imported which resulted in the existing coloration
of the breed of black-and-white while historically dun and red-pied
animals predominated.
Originally these animals were a small, angular dairy breed
with legendary longevity and resistance to diseases. Over time, and with
the introduction of other breeds, they have increased in size. The
average height for Shetland females is 105 cm with a mature body weight
of 325 kg. In the 1970 the Rare Breed Survival Trust began a restoration
program of the breed.
The
Shorthorn Breed of Cattle originated on the northeastern coast of
England in the counties of Northcumberland, Durham, York, and Lincoln.
These counties all touch the North Sea and lie between the Cheviot Hills
and the middle part of England. The first real development of the
Shorthorn breed took place in the valley of the Tees River. This river,
the valley of which is so well known in the development of the breed,
lies between Durham and York counties, and the large cattle that
inhabited this fertile valley early became known as Teeswater cattle. In
addition to having acquired a reputation for producing excellent
cattle, the Tees River Valley excelled in crops, pastures, and generally
high plane of agriculture.
Origin
The Siboney has been developed in Cuba since the late 1960's. The breed is 5/8 Holstein and 3/8 Cuban Zebu.
An
experiment combining Simmental with Brahman that began in the pastures
of a few dedicated cattlemen in the late 1960s has evolved logically
into the breed called Simbrah. The Brahman or Zebu, the most numerous
cattle type on earth, contributes heat and insect tolerance, hardiness
and excellent foraging ability, as well as maternal calving ease and
longevity. The Simmental complements these excellent traits with early
sexual maturity, fertility, milking ability, rapid growth and good beef
characteristics. The very docile disposition of most Simmental is also a
plus for this composite. These two cattle breeds have been used in
cooperation to produce Simbrah, superior in many ways to the parent
breeds.
Simbrah has been described as "The All Purpose American
Breed". Developed in America, Simbrah genetics may be called on to
infuse superior maternal traits into a herd. Or, due to their rapid
growth, vigor, and heat tolerance, Simbrah may be the answer in a
terminal cross program. In the final analysis, Simbrah will produce a
lean, high quality beef product.
The
Simmental is among the oldest and most widely distributed of all breeds
of cattle in the world. Although the first herd book was established in
the Swiss Canton of Berne in 1806, there is evidence of large,
productive red and white cattle found much earlier in ecclesiastical and
secular property records of western Switzerland. These red and white
animals were highly sought because of their "rapid growth development;
outstanding production of milk, butter, and cheese; and for their use as
draught animals." they were known for their imposing stature and
excellent dairy qualities.
As early as 1785, the Swiss Parliament limited exports
because of a shortage of cattle to meet their own needs. The Swiss "Red
and White Spotted Simmental Cattle Association" was formed in 1890.
An English Breed Alternative
The
SLB is the second biggest cattle-breed in Sweden. The cows weigh about
600 kg and give about 7900 kg milk in one year. This breed originates
from Germany and Holland. The Swedish Friesian are a dairy breed
originating from Dutch imports made from 1860 to 1907 and a few select
recent importations. They were developed from crossing the imported East
Friesian cattle with local breeds. The modern SLB have quite alot of
American Holstein in their breeding. This was done to improve the milk
production of the breed. SLB is however not very high producing when it
comes to meat (and calves), and they are not very resistent against
illness.
The
Swedish Red-and-White is the most common dairy breed found in Sweden.
It is red with small white markings. The breed originated from Red Pied
Swedish and Swedish Ayrshire. The cows weigh around 550 kg, and they
give about 7500 kg milk in one year. The SRB is a resilient breed of
cattle and they are also used for meat production.
The
Swedish Red Polled is a dairy breed found in Sweden. It is similar to
the Red Polled Østland of Norway and the West Finnish. The breed is
almost extinct.
The Swedish Red Polled varies in color from brown to a
yellowish red. Some individuals will have white markings on the belly.
Females stand 117-123 cm, weigh 350-450 kg and give 5500 kg milk
annually.
The
Rätien Gray, as a small, undemanding and robust tri-purpose breed
(milk, meat, labor), was spread over vast areas of the Eastern Alps.
Rätien is the ancient Roman province which today includes the areas
Graubünden, Tirol and South Bavaria.
Because of the many types of breeding regions and the isolation
of the valleys, local varieties have developed. For this reason one
distinguished above all in the historical “Rätien Gray Breeding Country”
of Switzerland between the smaller, lighter Albula Rätien Gray and the
larger, heavier Upland variety. The individual animals varied markedly
in form and color. Color descriptions extended from iron gray, silver
gray, dark gray all the way to gray-yellow with a pronounced fox-like
mop of hair.
The
Rathi is a Bos indicus breed used for draft and dairy purposes. It
originated in Bikaner and Ganganagar in northwest Rajasthan, India. The
breed is usually dark red or tan but occasionally spotted individuals
can be found. The Rathi originated from the Sahiwal and Tharparkar
breeds. They should not be confused with the Rath breed which is a
separate breed kept by the nomadic Rath cattle breeders. 
Seven
innovative breeders chose to use Red Angus in 1954 to establish the
industry’s first performance registry. Throughout its history, the Red
Angus Association of America has gone on to make all the tough choices,
and all the right choices. In recent years, the Red Angus breed has
attained a high level of popularity from commercial cattlemen, and for
all the right reasons.
Red
Brangus, produced by a mating of black Angus cows and grey Brahman
bulls, got their start in the early 1930's. Cattlemen noticed that the
crossbred calves from the bottom end of the herd and at the back pasture
came smaller, grew faster and had more meat than the British purebreds
popular at the time. That wasn't enough for these far-sighted beef
producers, however, They spent the next 20 years making sure that the
results of these matings were repeatable and predictable.
Since that time those who have joined forces with that
group have dedicated themselves to the production of profitable,
functional cattle that produce the lean, tasty beef today's consumer
demands.
The
Red Poll cattle were developed as a dual-purpose breed in their native
counties in England. Breeders sought a type that would fatten readily
rather than be of extreme size. A good milk flow was also considered
important in selecting breeding stock in the development of the breed in
its native land.
The counties of Suffolk and Norfolk in England are the
original homes of the Red Poll. These counties, which lie in a low
rather marshy section of England, border the North Sea and have soil
that is generally lacking in fertility. The first general agricultural
records of England record a great interest in dairy, particularly in
Suffolk County. However, the farmers did not specialize in dairy animals
but preferred cattle with a combination of milk production and high
quality carcasses.
This
is a non-commercial rare breed with registered population of 30 heifers
(2 years and younger) and 27 cows as of January 1995.
It is a naturally polled, red dairy cow. Live weight is
approximately 500 kg. Semen reserves in 1995 was 11,156 units. (13
bulls). 
The
Red Sindhi originated in the Pakistani state of Sind but due to its
hardiness, heat resistance and high milk yields they have spread into
many parts of India and at least 33 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania
and the Americas.
Under good management conditions the Red Sindhi
averages over 1700 kg of milk after suckling their calves but under
optimum conditions there have been milk yields of over 3400 kg per
lactation.
The
Retinta is the most numerous breed in Spain with a high concentration
in Extremadura and West Andalucia, where the breed originated. The breed
is dark red with a black nose and hooves and lyre shaped horns. The
Retinta originated from a combination of Andalusian Red, Extremadura Red
and Andalusian Blond.
The Retinta are work and beef animals with the primary
current selection for beef production. Their size and development vary
substantially from region to region, with light colored animals being
found in the coastal areas. The largest variety is the Tamerone, with is
selected and bred at Las Lomas Finca in the region of Cadiz.
The
Rojhan is a draft breed found in the Suleman Range of Mountains in the
southern part of D.G. Khan district (Rojhan, Kachagaddi, Umarkot and
Somemiani villages) in Punjab Province and parts of Dera Ismail Khan,
Kohat and Bannu districts in NWF Province in Pakistan. They have a red
and white spotted coat that has considerable in variation in spot size.
Their average weight at maturity is 350 kg for males and 250 kg for
females.
They have a small compact body with a small head and a
short neck. They have small and alert ears, medium horns tapering at the
tips, a proportionately large hump and an extended dewlap, tight skin, a
thin tail ending mostly in white switch. Bulls are suitable for draft
work in hilly and sub-hilly areas. The udder is small and tucked-up in
cows. 
The
Romangnola breed of cattle derives from the Bos primigenius podolicus, a
wild ox which lived on the Italian peninsula and, to a great extent
also, from the Bos primigenius nomadicus, a bovine originating in the
Euro - Asian steppes, which came to Italy during the fourth century A.D.
with the Gothic invasion led by Aginulf.
The Romagnola therefore combines the characteristics of
both major types of Aurochs, the ancient wild cattle which were the
forebears of the modern Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus cattle breeds.
The
Romosinuano was developed in the Sinú valley of northern Colombia. They
are of the Criollo type, red-brown and polled. The name Romosinuano
means Polled Sinú. The Romosinuano originated during the late 1800's
from Costeño con Cuernos (Horned Sinú). It is unknown whether the polled
trait is an independent mutation within the Costeño con Cuernos or if
there were Angus or Red Poll blood introduced.
The breed is somewhat smaller than the Costeño con
Cuernos with the mature females weighing 400 kg and males 500 kg. The
breed is docile with typical beef conformation.
The
Black Pied breed developed from crossing the local cattle in various
areas with the Dutch Black Pied and East Friesian breeds. Pure breeding
of Dutch cattle in Russia was conducted on only a small scale. The
central, Ukrainian, Siberian and other strains of Black Pied cattle were
formed by adsorptive and reproductive crossing.
The various strains of Black Pied cattle were approved
as a planned breed in 1925. Therefore, some animals were imported from
Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia and Lithuania during 1930-40 and
distributed in various parts of the country. The imported sires improved
milk production, feed conversion efficiency, and beef qualities. Five
thousand head of the Dutch breed were imported during 1957-65. The
production of the female ancestors of 107 bulls was 6-7000 kg of milk
with butterfat content of 4.4-4.6%.
One of the first of the new composite beef breeds (early 1970's) and the strictest in terms of a planned genetic program.
RX3 stands for the "synthesis" of three red American
breeds into a new and superior recombination. The three foundation
breeds were carefully chosen for the specific genetic traits each could
contribute to the new breed. It was necessary to develop a new germ
plasm pool which would allow selection for the essential traits of a
more complete breed.