Taurus Project

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The Taurus bull "Lamarck" (50% Sayaguesa, 25% Heck, 25% Chianina) in the Lippeaue reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia. Taurus bull MBD.jpg
The Taurus bull "Lamarck" (50% Sayaguesa, 25% Heck, 25% Chianina) in the Lippeaue reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Chianina is one of the breeds that are used in breeding Taurus cattle Chianina cow and calf, Tuscany.jpg
Chianina is one of the breeds that are used in breeding Taurus cattle
Taurus bull Taurus bull Lippeaue.jpg
Taurus bull

The Taurus Project of the German Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz aims to re-create the extinct aurochs, the wild ancestor of domestic cattle, by cross-breeding Heck cattle (themselves bred in the 1920s and 1930s in an attempt to replicate the aurochs) with aurochs-like cattle, mostly from Southern Europe. Herds of these cross-bred Taurus cattle have been established in Germany, Denmark, Hungary and Latvia, and are used in conservation of natural landscapes and biodiversity. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In 1996 the conservation group Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz in Germany started to crossbreed Heck cattle with primitive cattle from Southern Europe such as Chianina, Sayaguesa Cattle and the Spanish fighting bull in the Lippeaue reserve near the town of Soest. The purpose was and is an increased resemblance to the extinct aurochs, because they considered Heck cattle not satisfying. For example, they write in one of their publications: "The 'recreations' by the Heck brothers are too small, too short-legged, not elegant and their horns are not satisfying". [3] Therefore, the goal is to breed cattle that are considerably larger, more long-legged and long-snouted and have horns curving forwards, in addition to possessing the wild type colour scheme that was already present in the population. [4] [5] In 2003 breeding herds were started in Hungary and Denmark, and in 2004 one was begun in Latvia. [2]

Germany

In Germany, Taurus cattle herds are crossed with Chianina and Sayaguesa, two very tall breeds, and initially also the Spanish fighting bull (Toro de Lidia). The crossbred animals in the Lippeaue reserve, the most important breeding location, are composed of 47% Sayaguesa, 29% Heck cattle, 20% Chianina and 4% Lidia on average. [6]

Taurus cattle are listed in the herdbook X of the German Heck cattle association VFA. There is an increasing interest of Heck cattle breeders in using Taurus cattle because of their larger resemblance to the aurochs, so that there is a continuum between Taurus cattle and un-crossed Heck cattle. [4]

Hungary

Hortobágy National Park in Hungary has the largest herd of Taurus cattle so far, counting 500–600 individuals of which around 200 are mature cows. [7] In addition to crossbred cattle that were imported from Germany, Ankole-Watusi, Hungarian Grey cattle crosses and one half-Holstein Friesian cow are used. [8] There are two sub-herds, a main herd at Pentezug and another one at Karácsonyfok. [9] Studies in the national park showed that cattle are less adapted to dry, cold grassland than Przewalski horses, and until a few years ago the cattle were supplementary fed. [9] [10] The winter of 2011 was the first winter in which additional food was not necessary. [11]

Denmark

The Taurus bull "Leonardo" (Chianina x Heck) from Lille Vildmose, 2004 Urokse.jpg
The Taurus bull "Leonardo" (Chianina × Heck) from Lille Vildmose, 2004
Skull of a Taurus bull Taurus bull skull.jpg
Skull of a Taurus bull

Taurus breeding was initiated in Lille Vildmose Nature Reserve under the name Projekt Urokse ("Project Aurochs"). [12] The founding herd consisted of one Chianina × Heck bull, four Heck cows and one Sayaguesa × Heck cow, and in 2009 three Sayaguesa bulls were added; by 2010 the herd had grown to 56 individuals. [13]

Latvia

In Latvia, Taurus cattle are being bred by WWF Latvia. [2] In February 2004, besides two German animals 21 head of Dutch Heck cattle were brought to Pape Nature Reserve, [14] in October another 18 head of Dutch Heck cattle followed. [15]

External features of Taurus cattle

Most Taurus cattle are long-legged and comparatively slender. An increase in size was achieved, as large Taurus bulls measure 165 cm at the withers while normal Heck bulls measure only 140 cm. Particularly, the Sayaguesa-influenced animals are long-snouted. [4]

Lippeaue (Germany)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurochs</span> Extinct species of large cattle that inhabited Asia, Europe and Northern Africa

The aurochs is an extinct cattle species, considered to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. With a shoulder height of up to 180 cm (71 in) in bulls and 155 cm (61 in) in cows, it was one of the largest herbivores in the Holocene; it had massive elongated and broad horns that reached 80 cm (31 in) in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European bison</span> Eurasian species of mammal

The European bison or the European wood bison, also known as the wisent, the zubr, or sometimes colloquially as the European buffalo, is a European species of bison. It is one of two extant species of bison, alongside the American bison. The European bison is the heaviest wild land animal in Europe, and individuals in the past may have been even larger than their modern-day descendants. During late antiquity and the Middle Ages, bison became extinct in much of Europe and Asia, surviving into the 20th century only in northern-central Europe and the northern Caucasus Mountains. During the early years of the 20th century, bison were hunted to extinction in the wild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beefalo</span> Hybrid of cattle and bison

Beefalo constitute a hybrid offspring of domestic cattle, usually a male in managed breeding programs, and the American bison, usually a female in managed breeding programs. The breed was created to combine the characteristics of both animals for beef production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebu</span> South Asian domestic cattle

The zebu, sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle, Camel cow or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in South Asia. Zebu, like many Sanga cattle breeds, differs from taurine cattle by a fatty hump on their shoulders, a large dewlap, and sometimes drooping ears. They are well adapted to withstanding high temperatures and are farmed throughout the tropics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breeding back</span> Artificial selection

Breeding back is a form of artificial selection by the deliberate selective breeding of domestic animals, in an attempt to achieve an animal breed with a phenotype that resembles a wild type ancestor, usually one that has gone extinct. Breeding back is not to be confused with dedomestication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heck cattle</span> German breed of cattle

The Heck or Munich-Berlin is a German breed or type of domestic cattle. It was bred in the 1920s by Heinz and Lutz Heck in an attempt to breed back the extinct aurochs. Controversy revolves around methodology and success of the programme. There are considerable differences between Heck cattle and the aurochs in build, height, and body proportions. Furthermore, there are other cattle breeds which resemble their wild ancestors at least as much as Heck cattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konik</span> Polish breed of horse

The Konik or Polish Konik is a Polish breed of pony. There are semi-feral populations in some regions. They are usually mouse dun or striped dun in color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter cattle</span> Irish breed of cattle

The Dexter is an Irish breed of small cattle. It originated in the eighteenth century in County Kerry, in south-western Ireland, and appears to be named after a man named Dexter, who was factor of the estates of Lord Hawarden on Valentia Island. Until the second half of the nineteenth century it was considered a type within the Kerry breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hortobágy National Park</span> National park in Hungary

Hortobágy is an 800 km2 national park in eastern Hungary, rich with folklore and cultural history. The park, a part of the Alföld, was designated as a national park in 1973, and elected among the World Heritage Sites in 1999. The Hortobágy is Hungary's largest protected area, and the largest semi-natural grassland in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Park cattle</span> Breed of cattle

The White Park is a modern British breed of cattle. It was established in 1973 to include several herds or populations of colour-pointed white cattle – white-coated, with points of either red or black on the ears and feet. Such cattle have a long history in the British Isles, and the origins of some herds go back to the Middle Ages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shetland cattle</span> Breed of cattle

The Shetland is a small, hardy Scottish breed of cattle from the Shetland Islands to the north of mainland Scotland. The cattle are normally black and white in colour but there are smaller numbers in grey, red and dun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungarian Grey</span> Hungarian breed of cattle

The Hungarian Grey, also known as the Hungarian Grey Steppe, is a Hungarian breed of beef cattle. It belongs to the group of Podolic cattle and is characterised by long lyre-shaped horns and a pale grey coat. It is well adapted to extensive pasture systems and was formerly raised in very large numbers in the Hungarian puszta. In the twentieth century it came close to extinction, but numbers have since risen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romagnola</span> Italian breed of beef cattle

The Romagnola is a breed of cattle from the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It belongs to the Podolic group of grey cattle. Romagnola cattle were used principally as draught beasts in the past; since the mechanisation of agriculture in the middle of the twentieth century they have been bred primarily for beef production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heck horse</span> Horse breed

The Heck horse is a horse breed that is claimed to resemble the tarpan, an extinct wild equine. The breed was created by the German zoologist brothers Heinz Heck and Lutz Heck in an attempt to breed back the tarpan. Although unsuccessful at creating a genetic copy of the extinct species, they developed a breed with grullo coloration and primitive markings. Heck horses were subsequently exported to the United States, where a breed association was created in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cattle</span> Large, domesticated, cloven-hooved herbivores

Cattle are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Mature female cattle are called cows and mature male cattle are bulls. Young female cattle are called heifers, young male cattle are oxen or bullocks, and castrated male cattle are known as steers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tudanca cattle</span> Breed of cattle

The Tudanca is a traditional Spanish breed of cattle from Cantabria, in northern Spain. It takes its name from the village of Tudanca in the Comarca de Saja-Nansa in western Cantabria. In the past it was a draught breed, much used for transport of goods to and from the ports of the Cantabrian coast; it is now reared for meat, but is still used in traditional sport of arrastre de piedra, or "stone-dragging". Despite its geographic proximity, it is not closely related to the other cattle breed of Cantabria, the Pasiega.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tauros Programme</span> Dutch cattle-breeding project

The Tauros Programme, formerly known as TaurOs Project, is a cooperation between the Dutch foundation Stichting Taurus and universities such as the Wageningen University and Research Centre. It is an international effort to breed a type of cattle that resembles the extinct aurochs, the wild ancestor of domestic cattle.

Limia, Spanish Limiana or in Galician raza Limiá, is a primitive cattle breed from the Province of Ourense in Galicia in northwest Spain, which in some features resembles the extinct aurochs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yakutian cattle</span> Breed of cattle

Yakutian cattle, Саха ынаҕа in the Sakha language, are a cattle landrace bred north of the Arctic Circle in the Republic of Sakha. They are noted for their extreme hardiness and tolerance towards freezing temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lille Vildmose</span> Protected area in Denmark

Lille Vildmose is a raised bog in the hinterland in the municipalities of Aalborg and Mariagerfjord, Denmark. It is the largest remaining raised bog in Northwestern Europe. The bog is a remnant of heathland that once extended south from Limfjorden to Rold Forest.

References

  1. Marcel Keiffenheim (text), Lin Lambert (pictures): "Das Ur-Viech." (Archived version.) Greenpeace Magazin (Germany) 5.03. (in German)
  2. 1 2 3 Margret Bunzel-Drüke: "Projekt Taurus – En økologisk erstatning for uroksen." (Archived version.) Translated into Danish by Karsten Thomsen. Lohne: ABU 2004; Århus: Nepenthes, 2005. (in Danish)
  3. ABU info 06/07: Bunzel-Drüke, Scharf & Vierhaus: "Lydias Ende – eine Tragikomödie." ABU info 30/31 (2006/07), pp. 58–67. (in German)
  4. 1 2 3 Bunzel-Drüke, Finck, Kämmer, Luick, Reisinger, Riecken, Riedl, Scharf & Zimball: Wilde Weiden: Praxisleitfaden für Ganzjahresbeweidung in Naturschutz und Landschaftsentwicklung. ABU 2008. ISBN   978-3-0002-4385-1
  5. Cis van Vuure: History, Morphology and Ecology of the Aurochs (Bos primigenius). 2002.
  6. Internationales Zuchtbuch für Heckrinder
  7. “Breeding of the reconstructed aurochs,” Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park, 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  8. Walter Frisch: Der Auerochs – Das europäische Rind. 2010, ISBN   978-3-00-026764-2.
  9. 1 2 Waltraut Zimmermann, Lydia Kolter, Istvan Sandor: ″Naturschutzprojekt Hortobagy – Jahresbericht 2003.″ Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo 2004. (in German)
  10. Julia Poettinger: Vergleichende Studie zur Haltung und zum Verhalten des Wisents und des Heckrinds. 2011. (in German)
  11. Waltraut Zimmermann, Lydia Kolter, Istvan Sandor: ″Naturschutzprojekt Hortobagy – Jahresbericht 2011.″ Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo 2012. (in German)
  12. Projekt Urokse – A pilot project from Lille Vildmose National Park pdf. The Amt of Northern Jutland. 2005. Retrieved 26 November 2013. (in Danish)
  13. Uffe Gjøl Sørensen: Vildokserne ved Lille Vildmose 2003–2010. Status rapport med anbefalinger til projektets forvaltning. (Archived version.) København: UG Sørensen Consult, 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2013. (in Danish)
  14. Tauru pēcteči atgriezušies Papes pļavās! Archived 2014-05-25 at the Wayback Machine www.tvnet.lv, 4 March 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014. (in Latvian)
  15. Ierodas 24 jauni dzīvnieki - savvaļas zirgi un tauri. [ permanent dead link ] www.tvnet.lv, 14 October 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014. (in Latvian)