Belgian Blue

Geographic origin : Belgian Blue, also called ‘la race de Moyenne et Haute
Belgique’, is a Belgian cattle breed.

History : Belgian Blue results from the crossing between several breeds :
Shorthorn cattle from the U.K. , Netherlands dairy breeds and,
later, Charolaise cattle.

At first used essentially as a dual-purpose breed in the early 19th

century, the Belgian Blue quickly turned to a meaty
specialization.

Indeed, on the one hand, the first individuals with the ‘double
musculature’ trait were recorded from 1914.
On the other hand, it was favoured by strong demand for meat
and by milk price crisis in the fifties and sixties.

In 1973, after several years of selection of individuals with a

double musculature, the breed is renamed the Belgian Blue.

Calibre / Size : The average height at the withers is respectively 140 to 150 cm
for an average weight of 1100 to 1300 kg for a bull and 132 to
140 cm for an average weight of 700 to 900 kg for a cow.

The coat is predominantly white with sometimes blue or black

spots.

The main characteristic of the breed is a strong muscular

development.

Production parameter / There are two categories : the meat type and the dual-purpose
Performed zootechnics : type.

For the meat type, the carcass yield and the carcass-cutting
yield is excellent (respectively 70% and 82%).

The dual-purpose type is a livestock farming based on

 simultaneous milk and meat production.

They are mainly raised in Hainaut and Brabant. There are two
different types of genotypes that affect milk production : 4200
to 4800 liters for mh/mh and 5400 to 6000 liters for mh/+ or
+/+.

In addition to a large carcass yield, the meat, lean and tender

( due to small diameter muscle fiber ), has an excellent food
yield ( thanks to its high muscle fiber content and its low
collagen content ).

The production index is 1,6 kg per day for farmed calves and
1,2 kg per day for feeder calves.

They are slaughtered after 18 or 19 months when they weigh

650 kg.

Temperament / Despite early maturity, the individuals are docile and calm in
Behaviour : nature.

The cows have maternal abilities.

Anatomical / The cow calves for the first time at about 29 or 30 months with
Pathological an interval between two calvings about 14 months.
particularities :
The gestation lasts between 281,6 days for females and 282,6
days for males. At birth, the calf weights 44 kg for females and
47 kg for males.

However, a caesarean section from a veterinarian is always

required (more than 90% of calves).

Due to its double musculature the Belgian Blue have many

health and welfare problems.

The main one is the dystocia that makes calving almost

impossible and that forces the veterinarian to realize a
caesarean.

In the calf, there are the macroglossia that prevents the feeding
of calf by a swelling of his tongue, the cardio-respiratory
 problems that kills two days after the birth of the calf due to
lack of oxygen and the congenital articular rigidity making the
feeding of the calf difficult because he will have difficulty
getting up.

Economic and Ethical No information

aspects :
 Normand
Geographic origin : Originally to department of the Manche and Calvados in
Normandy, the Normande results from crossing between local
cattle and Shorthorn cattle coming from the United Kingdom
between 1830 and 1850.

History : Appeared in the early of the 17th century, the Normande was the
most important French cattle.

The Normande quickly became the best dual-purpose breed,

and, since 1890, she is exported worldwide.

There are about 4 million purebreds worldwide with more than

1,6 million just in Colombia.

Today, she stays the third French dairy breed with more than
379 000 registered cows.

Calibre / Size : The average height at the withers is 145 to 150 cm for an
average weight of 700 to 800 kg for a cow and 700 to 900 kg
for a bull.

The Normand has an excellent limb and hoof physiognomy

with a slender body and a small triangular head.

The mains colours are white, brown, and black which change
according to the individuals.

Temperament / In addition to her rusticity, she possesses a docile and calm

Behaviour : behaviour.

Production parameter / This French cattle is used as a dual-purpose type with meat and
Performed zootechnics : milk qualities interesting.

The Normand produces, in average, 6689 kg of milk per year.

This milk respectively has a fat and protein content of 4,2
percent and 3,43 percent.

Anatomical /
Pathological Her conformation offers her a facility for the calving.
particularities :

Economic and Ethical She is appreciated for her possibility to travel over long
aspects : distances, her adaptability and her versability.
 Angus
Geographic origin : The Angus, called too “Aberdeen Angus”, is a very popular
English cattle breed originating in north-eastern Scotland.

However, it is in North America that the modern Angus is

created.

Nowadays, there are many sub-breeds of Angus around the

world which are the crossing of an Angus with another cattle
breed : the Red Angus, the Black Angus, etc.

History : Even if she is famous to be the oldest cattle breed from Britain,
even today, the Angus’ origins are very vague.

Since 19th century, many breeders are fixed the main

characteristics.

Later, the modern Angus is created in the middle of 20th century

by American breeders to eliminate the unfavourable trait and to
produce a better meat.

In 2008, in the U.K., we counted 680 843 Angus.

However, the pure breed is endangered.

Calibre / Size : The average height at the withers is respectively 135 cm for an
average weight of 1000 kg for a bull and 110 to 125 cm for an
average weight of 600 kg for a cow.

The main colours are black and red with, sometimes, white on
the udder.

Temperament / The Angus have a good adaptative value in addition to a good

Behaviour : behaviour and undemanding.

The calves, calm and vigorous, mature quickly.

The cows are very maternal.

Production parameter / The Angus is essentially used in crossbreeding because she

Performed zootechnics : improves the carcass quality and the milking ability.

Moreover, she possesses an interesting feed conversion index

and an excellent carcass yield.

The meat is tender because it contains intramuscular fat.

Anatomical / She is polled by a dominant polled gene.

Pathological
particularities : The Angus can remain easily fertile and productive up to 13
years with her excellent fertility and longevity.

The breed is very used in crossbreeding because she reduces the

risk of dystocia.

Economic and Ethical She seems to be close to the curly-coated Galloway.

aspects :
In 20th century, the Americans continue the crossbreeding and
create the Red Angus who become very popular.

In Australia, the Murray Gray is created between the Angus and

the Shorthorn.
 Brown Swiss
Geographic origin : The Brown Swiss is a Swiss cattle breed finding principally her
origins in the Alpine region of Switzerland and in the
Southwest of Germany called too “the cheese dairy of
Germany”.

History : According to the scientists, she is the oldest pure breed in the
world.
She dates from 880 B.C. in the Bronze Age.

In 1879, in Bavaria, one of the oldest herd-book is created by

the first breeder association.

Today, the population estimated at 7 million with 455000 heads

just in Germany but there are only about a hundred who are
original pure breeds.
The rest is due to crossbreeding with Brown Swiss from the
U.S.A.

Calibre / Size : The average height at the withers is respectively 145 to 160 cm
for an average weight of 1000 to 1100 kg for a bull and 135 to
145 cm for an average weight of 550 to 800 kg for a cow.

The coat is generally mousy brown even if he exists other

shades of brown.
She is darker on the shoulders and neck.
The black muzzle is surrounded by a border and dorsal stripe
who are lighter.
The hooves are tough and dark.

Temperament / It is rustic cattle.

Behaviour :

Production parameter / The Brown Swiss produces, in average, 7168 kg of milk per
Performed zootechnics : year.
This milk respectively has a fat and protein content of 4,16
percent and 3,55 percent.

The calves are slaughtered from 13 months when he weighs

 about 500 kg.
Their A.D.G., average daily weight gains, is more than 1250 g.

Anatomical / The breed possesses a good adaptative value.

Pathological
particularities :

Economic and Ethical The breeders cross regularly with Blonde d’Aquitaine or
aspects : Belgian Blue to improve the beef Breed characteristics of
calves.
 Holstein (All)
Geographic origin : The International Holstein is a German dairy cattle breed.

The breed finds its origins in Germany in Jutland, Schleswig-

Holstein, and Friesland regions but it is in U.S.A. and Canada
that the breed is created and improved the milk production
while keeping a low-fat content.

History : In the 15th century, the Holstein appeared in the north-western

Europe, a region known for its aptitude of grazing and its dairy
production.

The first breeding association and the first herd book were
created respectively in 1871 and 1876 in Germany.

In 1960, with the reimportation of U.S. Holstein, the German

Holstein is created by injection of Holstein blood and the dual-
purpose breeds : the Red and white (Rotbunte) and the Black
and white (Schwarzbunte) to improve their Breed
characteristics.
There are 2 361 000 000 adult cows with 241,000 Red and
white.

Today, it’s the most important dairy breed. In several countries,

she represents a great capital cattle.

In Belgium, the Black Pied of the Herve and the Black Pied of
the Polders are crossed with the Holstein by blood injection
which has greatly improved the dairy production (4750 kg in
1959 to 8618 kg in 2006).
In 1990, the Black-Pied Holstein’s herd-book is created.
She represents the most important capital cattle and situate
mainly in the province of West Flanders, Liège, Antwerp and
Hainaut.
Calibre / Size : The average height at the withers is respectively 138 to 155 cm
for an average weight of 1200 to 1300 kg for a bull and 130 to
150 cm for an average weight of 650 to 750 kg for a cow.

The hooves are short and solid.

The huge udder is well balanced between the quarters (normal

rate : 45% / 55%).

Separated by 6 cm, the tears are perpendicular to the ground.

The rump is slightly sloping.

The limbs are strong with a healthy bone structure.

The coat is white and black or red but it’s rarer.

The demarcations between the colours are clear.

Temperament / The German Holstein still have some traits of hardiness.

Behaviour :

Production parameter / In average, the milk production per lactation year (about 301
Performed zootechnics : days) turn around 10000 kg which is the best milk yield.

The fat and protein content are respectively about 3,8% and
3,2%.

The milk is produced mainly for the drinking milk and the
yoghurt because its properties are not required to make cheese.

For the Black-Pied Holstein, the milk yield per lactation year is
about 8618 kg with a fat and protein content respectively of
4,05% and 3,33%.
.
For the German Holstein, the milk yields per lactation year are
about 9000 kg for a Black and white and 8258 kg for a Red and
white.
The fat and protein contents are respectively of 4,02% and
3,35% for a Black and white and 4,15% and 3,37% for a Red
and white.

Anatomical / The Holstein blood improves the dairy production, the global
Pathological constitution, the size, the hooves and the udder.
particularities : However, this blood bring a poor carcass quality.

The cow calves for the first time at about 23 or 24 months with
an interval between two calvings about 14 months.
The gestation lasts between 279,4 days for females and 277,8
days for males.
The cows are slaughtered after 2,5 or 3 lactations.

The twin calvings are frequent (4,2%).

At birth, the calf weights 40 to 45 kg.
A caesarean section from a veterinarian is rarely required
thanks to a croup facilitating the calves’ passages (more than
90% of calves).

Due to its milk overproduction the Holstein have many health

and welfare problems.

The male calves are either slaughtered early at birth or sent to

fattening site after a few weeks.

Very early, the females are polled without anaesthesia.

The mastitis and the lameness are frequent.

Economic and Ethical He exists only one herd-book for the two types of German
aspects : Holstein even if they are very different.

The Red and white is situated essentially in the northwest of

Germany and the Black and white found throughout in
Germany even if she is less present in southern Germany.
The dual-purpose breed at the origin of the German Holstein
are endangered.
The milk production is vey diversified in Germany according to
several factors.

The Red Holstein and the Belgian Red-Pied are two distinct
breeds.

The Holstein slaughter can be done without dizziness.

The dairy production is very diversified (industrial, family,

etc.).