Breeds of Cows Directory: "V"

Breeds of Cows Directory: "V": Vestland Fjord - Vosges

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

Vestland Fjord, Also Known By: Vestlandsk fjordfe, Fjord, West Coast Fjord, Westland Horned, Western fjord cattle

Links: 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).[Oklahoma State University]

Vestland Red Polled, Also Known By: Vestlandsk Raudkolle, Western Red Polled Cattle, West Coast Red Polled, Westland Polled

Links: Oklahoma State University

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). [Oklahoma State University]

Vosges, Also Known As: Vosgienne (French), Vogesen (German)

Links: Oklahoma State University

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). In 1971, semen from Telemark bulls in Norway was used to a limited extent and nowadays the proportion of Telemark blood is about 1/8. In 1977, a safeguard scheme was undertaken and the breed is now increasing, with about 8,500 cows (1997). The Vosges is a black and white, colorsided breed. The head is mainly milky grey. Dark rings around the eyes. The muzzle and the area around it are also dark. Vosges is a good natured, robust, undemanding milk-base dual purpose mountain cattle, well-adapted to difficult regions and to variation in temperature, able to walk long distances and to make good use of roughage. Fed almost exclusively on home grown fodder and kept in the summer on high land in the Vosges Mountains, the breed is well -known for the quality of its milk from which the distinct German Munster cheese is made. Another of its qualities is its ease of calving. Milk production: 3 479 Kg at 3,75 % butter fat and 3,33 % protein. Withers height: Bull: 135 - 140 cm Cow: 125 - 135 cm Liveweight: Bull: 800 Kg Cow: 600 Kg [Oklahoma State University]