Breeds of Cows Directory: "F"

Breeds of Cows Directory: "F": Fighting Bull - Florida Cracker/Pineywoods

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

Name, Description
Fighting Bull, Also Known As: toro de lidia, toro lidiado, ganado bravo, Touro de Lide
A subspecies of auroch, Bos taurus Ibericus, is thought to be the ancestor of the all the dark colored breeds found on the Iberian peninsula including the Fighting bull or Fighting cattle. The breed is selected primarily for aggressiveness, strength and vigor. They are bred primarily in Spain, Portugal and those Latin American countries were bull fighting is organized. Most individuals are either black or dark brown but the colors range from gray to white-patched, brindled, roan, red and chestnut. The Fighting cattle are recognized for their elegant stature. The toro has a long curved neck and holds its head very high. The long slender legs of the breed allow it to generate remarkable speed and the breed is noted for its agility. Mature bulls weight approximately 600 to 700kg (1300-1600 pounds).
Finnish, Also known by: Suomenkarja, Suomalainen Karja, Finsk (Swedish), Finncattle
This polled dairy breed is found throughout Finland. The varieties include East Finnish (red and white), North Finnish (white) and West Finnish (red).
Fjall, Also known by: Swedish Mountain, Fjällras, Swedish Highland
The conformation of the Fjall or commonly known as the Swedish Mountain breed, was established by the end of the 19th century in approximately 1893. Then the average milk yield was about 12-1400kg with 3-3.5% fat. The weight of the cows was about 300-350kg. No foreign breeds were used when the breed was established. Today the average milk yield is about 5500kg per year with 4.5% fat and 3.6% protein. Although good cows can produce up to 11 - 12,000kg a year. The average weight on cows is now 450kg (350-600). Full grown bulls can weigh 650-800kg. The average height for cows are about 125cm and for full grown bulls 135-140cm. The Fjall is polled and of typical dairy type, its considered a very good grazing animal and an efficient milk producer. The color varies from nearly totally white, to white with spots of black or red, over to coloursided black or red with white top and bottom line. Sometimes even single colored black or red animals occur. More seldom can gray color be seen. The Fjall is closely related with the Norwegian breed " Sidet tronderfe/nordlandsfe" or "STN. In the 70's and 80's the breed was almost destroyed by crossbreeding but since 1995 the breeders have formed the "Swedish mountain breed association" or Svensk fiallrasavel in Swedish. And together with STN in Norway they now work without crossbreeding. Vital to the continuation of the breed as been the storage of frozen semen from bulls born in the 50s and 60s which has been used too increase the genetic size of the breed. Population estimate 1998 is 1000 breeding cows in Sweden. For more information please contact: Svensk Fjallrasavel, c/o Lennart Rosen, Larstorp, 59030 Borensberg, Sweden .
Florida Cracker/Pineywoods
Florida Cracker Cattle are Florida's equivalent to the better known Texas Longhorn. Florida Cracker Cattle, Texas Longhorn Cattle and the various breeds of Central and South America cattle known collectively as Criollo cattle all descend from the original cattle imported into the Americas by the Spanish. The name Florida Cracker has only been used in recent years. Previously the cattle have been referred to as Piney Woods, Florida Scrub or Florida Native Cattle. While Florida Cracker cattle are, in general, similar in appearence to Texas Longhorn cattle, they are smaller in size and do not have the same extreme horn length as the Texas Longhorn. The nutrition available to what were essentially feral cattle for hundreds of years and thick "scrub"--heavily wooded lowland areas--in which they lived would not have been conducive to the survival of larger, longer-horned animals. While the horn length of Florida Cracker cattle is not extreme, their shapes can include very interesting twists in aged cows and steers. Colors and spotting patterns are very similar to those observed in Texas Longhorns. The mature weight of Florida Cracker cows is usually under 900 pounds with those of so-called dwarf or "guinea" animals being much smaller. The age at puberty of well-fed Cracker heifers is very young, even prior to weaning and their fertility is excellent. These traits along with their ability to withstand the heat, insects and humidity of Florida's long summers made them very well-adapted for low-input beef production. In spite of the importation of purebred breeds of northern European origin beginning as early as the 1850s, large numbers of Florida Cracker cattle were found until the mid-1950's but were then nearly wiped out through crossbreeding with Brahman, Hereford and Angus. Several herds of Cracker Cattle in Florida as well as similar types in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia were preserved by families that appreciated their hardiness, heat tolerance and heritage. The State of Florida has been involved in preservation programs for Florida Cracker Cattle since 1970 and currently has herds maintained at four locations. In 1989 the Florida Cracker Cattle Breeders Association was formed to promote the preservation of Florida Cracker Cattle and over 400 animals were evaluated and registered to serve as foundation animals. Article Credit:http://www.moocow.com/info/breedsofcows/f.breedsofcows.shtml