Belgian Red

For the beer known as Belgian red, see Flanders red ale.

Belgian Red

Conservation status	FAO (2007): not listed [1] : 8  EAAP (2007): endangered [2] DAD-IS (2025): unknown [3]
Other names	Belgisch Roodbont [3] [4] Kempens Roodbont [3] Red Flemish [4] : 37  Rood ras van België [4] : 37  Rood ras van West-Vlaanderen [4] : 37  Rood van België [2] Rood West-Vlaams Rouge de Belgique [2] Rouge de Flandre Occidentale [2] West Flemish [5] : 128  West Flemish Red [4] : 37  West Vlaamse [4] : 37
Country of origin	Belgium
Use	formerly dual-purpose, now mainly dairy
Traits
Weight	Male: 1200 kg [2] Female: 700 kg [2]
Height	Male: 150 cm [2] Female: 140 cm [2]
Coat	red-and-white, rarely solid red
Horn status	horned in both sexes [2]
Cattle Bos primigenius

The Belgian Red is a Belgian breed of dual-purpose domestic cattle from Flanders in Belgium and Northern France. In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed. ^[2]

It is similar to the Flemish Red (Rouge du Nord, Rouge Flamande) of France, but is considered a distinct and separate breed. ^{[5] : 128} Although often red-and-white in colouration, it is also distinct and separate from the Belgian Red Pied (Pie-Rouge, Roodbont) and from the Belgian White-and-Red (Witrood Ras Van Oost-Vlaanderen, Blanc-Rouge de Belgique). ^{[4] : 37}

History

The Belgian Red is thought to derive from the local cattle of the area of Cassel and Hazebrouck in French Flanders – which were formerly widespread on both sides of the Belgian-French border – with influence from the British Shorthorn (or Durham, as it was then known). ^{[5] : 128  [6]} From 1906 there may also have been some influence from the Danish Red. ^{[5] : 128} A herd-book was started in 1919. ^{[4] : 37}

In 1986 there were still about 50,000 Belgian Red cattle left in the region, but the population decreased rapidly. In 2001 there were recorded to be less than 100 of the cattle left in the world.

Characteristics

Belgian Reds are primarily solid red with potentially a few white patches on head, dewlap, underline and legs, and udder or scrotum. They are generally long, large and heavy animals.

This breed is primarily a dual purpose breed, being raised for both meat and milk. However, after 1980's selection for two separate strains (meat and milk or dual-purpose) were created by the breeders of this breed.

Bulls generally weigh about 1200 kg and cows 700 kg. ^[2]

Use

The average milk yield of cows was measured in 2004 at 5522 kg per lactation; milk-fat content was 4.27%. ^{[5] : 128}

References

1. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN   9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
2. Breed description: Belgian Red. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 19 May 2008.
3. Breed data sheet: Belgisch roodbont / Belgium (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2025.
4. Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN   085199430X.
5. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN   9781780647944.
6. Rood West-Vlaams rund (in Dutch). Oosterzele: Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed. Archived 20 February 2015.