EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF

THE CATEGORISATION OF TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE IN EUROPE

CATEGORIZACION DE TIPOS Y RAZAS DE VACUNO EN EUROPA

Alderson, L.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust. National Agricultural Centre, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, U.K.

Additional Keywords Palabras clave adicionales Americas. Domestication. Ethnology. Américas. Domesticación. Etnología.

SUMMARY

The domestication of cattle in Europe and domesticación pero hay también evidencias North Africa dates back at least 8000 years. The coetáneas del proceso en otras partes de Europa. Middle East was an early site of domestication but Los movimientos migratorios de los pueblos y el there is evidence of domesticated cattle in other consiguiente intercambio cultural afectaron a las parts of Europe at about this time. Subsequent poblaciones ganaderas. La comprensión de las movements of peoples and the development of relaciones entre las razas y tipos europeos de cultural exchange affected the popula- ganado puede aumentarse mediante un análisis tions. The understanding of the relationship multidisciplinario, que incluya datos etnológicos, between european breeds and types of cattle can arqueológicos y sociohistóricos, así como la be increased by a multi-disciplinary approach caracterización morfológica y estudios bioquími- including ethnological, archaeological and socio- cos de las razas y poblaciones ganaderas. Se han historical data, in conjunction with morphologi- identificado cuatro grupos de bovinos europeos: cal characterisation and biochemical studies of podólico, de origen asiático; del norte livestock breeds and populations. Four european de Europa; el de Europa Central con tipos de groups of cattle have been identified, namely the origen mixto y el longhorn, del extremo occidental podolic of asian origin, the shorthorn of north- de Europa que pueden ser relictos de los bovinos ern european origin, the central european group primitivos. containing types of mixed origin, and the long- group in the western fringes of Europe, which may be remnants of cattle of the earliest SOURCES OF EVIDENCE civilisation. Evidence for ancestral relationships between breeds of cattle may be RESUMEN sought in several research fields viz:

La domesticación de los bovinos en Europa I. PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISATION. y Norte de Africa data de al menos 8000 años. El Those characteristics which have been Oriente medio fue un lugar primitivo de influenced least by environmental

Archivos de zootecnia,Arch. Zootec. vol. 41, 41 núm. (extra): 154 (extra), 325-334. p. 1992.325. ALDERSON effect or artificial selection pressure by the Shorthorn and South Devon will provide the best evidence, while breeds from Britain several decades the effects of convergent or divergent ago. evolution will serve to confuse the evaluation. 2. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE. Historical Morphology can provide useful evidence may be obtained from several evidence. For example, the shape and sources. Firstly, archaeological sites size of the head and the horns in yield large quantities of osteological general are likely to have been affected material which can provide a general less by selection. picture of the most common types of The predominant colour of a cattle at different periods. However, population may also be indicative of much of the evidence from this its origin, although it may have been source in the past has been misleading. influenced during its later Secondly, cave or tomb paintings development by religion, culture and from an early period have been found fashion. For example, the colour of in Europe and North Africa. These cattle was of great importance to the probably give a more accurate Celts: red animals symbolised fertility representation of the type of cattle, and crops, black animals pestilence subject to the artistic licence of the and death, and white animals the artist(s) and possible misinterpre- worship of the sun. However, colour tation by later generations. alone without corroborating evidence Thirdly, ethnological studies are can be misleading. On a farm in particularly valuable and the , calves with the colour pattern movement and migration of peoples of Gloucester cattle resulted from is likely to have been a significant matings of a Jersey x Charolais factor in the distribution of livestock. with Friesian cows. Where the movement was rapid, or Size and conformation are likely to where the purpose was plunder, the be less useful criteria; they are easily effect may have been limited, but and rapidly affected by environmental where trade and or settlement was the conditions and systems of manage- prime objective the movement of ment. For example, a White Park cow cattle would have been an integral weighs 630-640 kg, but its feral part of the process. cousin the Chillingham, which has evolved separately for more than 700 3. BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE. The years, weighs only 280 kg. development of techniques such as Phenotypic characterisation should blood-typing, genetic finger printing be interpreted with the benefit of and other forms of DNA analysis has other evidence. For example, provided further opportunities to study morphological studies of the Rubia breed relationships and make genetic Gallega breed in North-West Iberia distance calculations. are of limited value because the breed Several studies have been carried experienced significant introgression out to calculate genetic distance. Royle

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 326. EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE

(1980) studied several british breeds distant from the centre of diffusion of cattle; Manwell and Baker (1980) are the oldest and most primitive covered a different range of breeds of breeds. cattle; Bowling (1990) and Cothran The alternative explanation is that (1992) have studied many breeds of Bos primigenius (Aurochs) was horses but their results do not agree domesticated at several different sites in some respects. in Europe and North Africa and the Limitations on the value of such variety in the morphology of cattle studies result from population would tend to support this proposition. bottlenecks and subsequent inbree- There is evidence of ploughing in the ding in many breeds, and these lower Danube Valley (circa 4500 BC), together with unequal founder effect in England and Poland (circa 3500 may distort the results. The accuracy BC) and in Southern Spain (before of this evidence also relies on 3000 BC). Domesticated cattle in the knowledge of introgression suffered northern Sahara (6500 - 4000 BC) are by a breed so that only pure depicted in rock paintings and show representatives of the original type longhorned humpless cattle of various should be included in the study, but colours and patterns. Similarly in it is clear that this requirement is not Egypt (2500 - 1500 BC) cattle always properly recognised. exhibited varying characteristics including polledness. The Minoan civilisation in Crete (circa 1500 BC) SITES OF DOMESTICATION placed great emphasis on the bull culture and the used in the sport A further question that needs to be of bull-leaping were longhorned and addressed is the identification of the spotted or pied. Cattle were used at an site(s) of domestication. All domestic early stage for milk, meat, manure Bos taurus cattle are descended from and draught. the Aurochs, whose range extended This paper does not seek to explore westwards from a line linking the the validity or relative merits of these Gulf of Finland and the Persian Gulf, theories. It will assess the evidence including North Africa but excluding from morphological and historical Scandinavia except for Denmark and information to construct a pattern of the southern tip of Sweden. relationship between breeds of cattle Probably cattle were domesticated in Europe. first in Sumeria, and it is possible that all domesticated cattle derive from this single centre of civilisation CURRENT CATTLE TYPES IN spreading gradually to all parts of EUROPE Europe. There is some evidence to support this hypothesis (Epstein, 1970). The evaluation of the phenotypic A theory has been advanced by characteristics of each breed of cattle Lauvergne (1979) to demonstrate that in Europe enables a broad pattern of the breeds which are found most types to be drawn.

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 327. ALDERSON

In some cases this information is Sussex, Shorthorn (all England). This devalued because of recent and group also later influenced breed significant introgression and has been development by widespread use of discarded. Thus the phenotype of the Shorthorn cattle from England in the Salers breed in France was changed development of breeds such as the by crossing with Highland and Devon Bleue du Nord and Maine-Anjou. cattle from Britain; the Mertola of Portugal is the result of relatively 3. CENTRAL EUROPE. recent crossing with the Berrenda and (a) Swiss group. the Alentajana; while the Cacereña of - Distribution: Alpine region, Extremadura has suffered some northern Italy. introgression from northern European - Short head, medium/short horns breeds. curving upwards. The following types of native - Mainly shades of grey and brown; cattle (i.e before the recent expansion light-coloured muzzle “halo”. of breeds such as the Holstein/Friesian - Medium size. and Simmental) can be distinguished: - Typical breeds: Brown Swiss (Switzerland),Garfagnina, Pontremo- 1. PODOLIC. lese (both Italy). - Distribution: Lower/Mid Danube, (b) Pattern group. Balkans, Italy. - Distribution: Germany, Austria, - Long heads with long lyre horns. Switzerland, Eastern France. - Mainly grey in colour with black - Short head, slightly concave; tail switch; usually fawn at birth; medium short horns curving upwards. light coloured muzzle halo. Red, black, pied and various patterns. - Large size and rangy conformation. - Medium large size. - Typical breeds: Grey Steppe - Typical breeds: Simmental (Hungary and other countries) (Switzerland), Pie Rouge de l’Est Maremmana (Italy). (France), Pinzgauer (Austria), Fleckvieh (Germany). 2. NORTH EUROPEAN. (c) Yellow-Brown (Chestnut). - Distribution: Poland, Czechoslo- - Distribution: Central Germany vakia, Germany, Denmark, Benelux, through France and northern Spain to England. Portugal. - Short head and deep forehead, - Short head, concave face; medium with short horns often turning down. horns but some variation. Yellow, - Mainly red but also brown, black red, brown; light-coloured muzzle and pied. (halo). - Medium size. - Variable size. - Typical breeds: Angeln (Germany), - Typical breeds: Murbodner, Danish Red (Denmark), Flemish Gelbvieh (both Germany), Tarentaise, (Belgium), Friesisan (Netherlands), Limousin, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Polish Red (Poland); , Aubrac, Parthenaise, Villard de Lans

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 328. EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE

(all France), Leonese, Pyrenean, cattle to spread within each trading Asturian (all Spain), Mirandesa, area. Arouquesa. Minhota (all Portugal). The Beaker trading area included the area now covered by British Isles, 4. WESTERN EUROPE. Benelux, France and Iberia. The - Distribution: South-West Iberia, Corded Ware area included southern Wales, Scotland, Ireland. Scandinavia and much of northern - Long head sometimes slightly and eastern Europe. convex: long spreading horns curving upwards and sometimes more upright. 2. BRONZE AND IRON AGEES. - Black is common, but also red, (a) The Urn culture (2000 - 1000 pied and other patterns, especially BC) which originated in the mid- coloured points. The variety in colour Danube area (Carpathian Basin) shows persists in some breeds such as the evidence of cultural conformity and Berrenda, but in other cases a particular the trade and exchange of ideas. Its colour has been selected to the main area of influence was central exclusion of others. The White Park and eastern Europe but it spread colour pattern (coloured points) was further westwards across central fixed in Ireland and Wales more than Europe to include the whole of Italy 2000 years ago, while black became and France and thus intruded on an the preferred colour of the Welsh area of Beaker trading in earlier Black breed less than 100 years ago. times. - Variable size. (b) The Celts (800 BC - 50 AD) - Typical breeds: White Park, Kerry, continued the pattern of movement Welsh Black (all British Isles), established by the Urn culture. They Berrenda, Negra Ibérica, Morucha, were a civilised people who originated Retinta (all Spain), Camargue (France). in southern Germany and the eastern Alps and spread mainly westward penetrating as far as the Iberian MAJOR MOVEMENTS OF peninsula and the British Isles. They PEOPLES IN PRE-COLOMBIAN also spread eastwards towards Scythia EUROPE and southwards into the Balkans and Greece. Cattle were an important part 1. SECOND-FOURTH MILENNIA BC. of their culture and colour was of The first significant period was during special significance. the second, third and fourth millennia The combined effect of the Urn BC when a long period of established culture and the Celts drove a deep trading patterns allowed expansion in wedge into the area influenced by the farming settlement and improvement in Beaker people thus enabling cattle Europe. This period coincided from eastern Europe to move into with the wider use of cattle, especially central and western Europe. in northern Europe, and permitted It is likely that these were the most suitable and valuable type of shorthorned cattle and it may be that

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 329. ALDERSON the expansion of the Celts into the and parts of Scotland and Ireland. Balkans and Greece accounts for the shorthorned cattle found in those 4. EASTERN INVASIONS. The Huns areas. were the first Asian invaders. They The Celts were displaced later by were wholly nomadic and their the Romans but there is little evidence excellent horsemanship was essential that the Romans significantly for the control of their grazing herds influenced the movement of cattle of livestock which included cattle. within their Empire other than as They dominated Eurasia as far west beasts of sport. as the Lower Danube by the second vhalf of the 4th century AD. 3. GERMANIC EXPANSION. Their direct impact on Europe was The earliest movement of peoples brief as they were defeated by the from Scandinavia and northern Europe Franks in 451 AD, but their indirect started about 500 BC and also influence was significant. originated in the Corded Ware trading They disturbed several other groups area. of peoples and these all migrated Their cattle again seemed to belong westwards. The Visigoths displaced to the Shorthorn type. For 1000 years from the lower Danube reached Greece these peoples slowly expanded their (395 AD), sacked Rome (410 AD), territory and created settlements, were granted an area of Gaul by the mainly in the eastern areas of the Romans, defeated by the Franks (507 British Isles. Later the Franks AD) and settled in Spain. The Alans continued this expansion during the also were disturbed by the Huns, 5th century AD. Their base was the migrated to the Carpathian Basin (406 Lower Rhine Valley but they spread AD) and from there moved with the southwards settling in territory vacated Suebi and Vandals through central by the Romans. Thus they Europe and Gaul to Spain by 411 AD. superimposed their culture on a further The Suebi settled in Galicia but the Beaker area, and the Frankish empire other tribes crossed to North Africa. at its greatest extent occupied the area The Ostrogoths moved from Scythia now covered by Benelux, France, passing through the Balkans (circa Germany, Austria and Switzerland 450 AD) to Italy where they settled and penetrated into Italy and Spain. (489 AD). The Avars were descendants The Vikings can be considered as in spirit of the Huns. They dominated part of the same movement some parts of Europe during the 7th and 8th centuries later although their cattle centuries AD although their main were more variable in type. Their effect was in the Balkans. raids commenced circa 800 AD but It seems likely that these Asian they also made settlement in several invaders introduced Podolic cattle to coastal areas particularly around the Europe but they generally moved too mouths of the Loire, Seine and Rhine fast and too far to effect major cattle rivers and in much of eastern England migrations after the first invasion of

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 330. EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE the Huns. Their main effect was to distance of one breed in this group, push each existing population further the White Park (Royle, 1983), indicates westwards. its antiquity and remote relationship to other groups.

CORRELATION OF MORPHO- LOGICAL AND HISTORICAL CATTLE OF THE AMERICAS EVIDENCE The cattle taken to the Americas The historical evidence shows that from Spain in the aftermath of the area of culture and trade established Columbus’ voyage of discovery by the Beaker people in western derived mainly from the -western Europe was eroded by two subsequent longhorned type in Andalucía. Again broad cultures which were this historical evidence is supported superimposed in some areas. The Urn by phenotypic characterisation. The culture, Celts, Germanic and long horns, long head with a linear Scandinavian influences pushed into profile, and varied colours of the western Europe from the east and the cattle of Andalucía (eg Berrenda, north. The later Asian invasions then Retinta, etc) are reflected in the moved whole populations and cultures Texas Longhorn (USA), BON westwards in a knock-on effect. It (Columbia), Santa Catarina or Lageano has been noted previously (Alderson, (Brazil) and some other Criollo 1989) that the only areas of Beaker populations (Argentina), which culture not affected by later influences evolved in areas of spanish settlement. were Wales, parts of Scotland and Most Brazilian Criollo breeds on the Ireland and South-Western Iberia other hand developed in portuguese (figure 1). territory and they resemble the yellow The phenotypic characterisation brown cattle of northern Portugal (eg of cattle in Europe fits this pattern Mirandesa) which are more consistent closely (figure 2). The Podolic cattle in colour, have a shorter face with a are found in the area influenced most more concave profile, and shorter by the Huns and the Avars from Asia; horns (Primo, 1990). the shorthorned cattle of northern Europe have their roots in the Germanic homelands; the mixing of FURTHER RESEARCH these two groups probably produced the swiss and pattern groups of central The phenotypic characterisation Europe; the related yellow brown and historical evidence outlined in (chestnut) group was pushed westwards this paper define the major groups of into France and northern Iberia; the cattle in Europe. There are some longhorned cattle of western Europe inconsistencies. In particular the lack occupy the relatively undisturbed of a consistent type of cattle in Beaker areas. The great genetic Scandinavia provides an opportunity

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 331. ALDERSON

Figure 1. Cultural areas of influence in Europe up to the tenth century AD. (Areas de influencia cultural en Europa hasta el siglo X después de Cristo).

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 332. EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE

Figure 2. Phenotypic categorisation of breeds/types of cattle in Europe. (Categorización fenotípica de razas/tipos de vacuno en Europa).

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 333. ALDERSON for further analysis. The categorisation northern european red and western of some other breeds invites reasons longhorned types. The apparently which are speculative. The Camargue random distribution of some colour cattle, whose habitat is the Rhone patterns such as a white head (Simental, delta, conform to the description of Groningen, Hereford), white belt the western longhorned group and (Swiss, Lakenfelder, Galloway, their location may be explained by Somerset) and finching (Pinzgauer, the isolation afforded by their native Gloucester) are also matters of marshes. The shorthorned cattle of conjecture. the Balkans and Greece are situated There is a need to obtain evidence in a region dominated by Podolic from other sources to supplement the cattle but probably they are a remnant morphological and historical of Celtic influence in that area. The information. In particular DNA characterisation of some breeds in analysis comparative studies of each North-Western Iberia, where the group would be valuable, and this yellow-brown group blended into the should include especially feral longhorned western group, indicate populations such as the Mostrenca that they combine features of both cattle in the Parque Nacional Doñana types (eg. Caldelana, Vianesa). in Andalucía which may represent a Similarly the old Devon in England, remnant of the earliest cattle group in at the frontier of Germanic expansion western Europe. westwards, may be a mixture of

REFERENCES

Alderson, L. 1989. The Chance to Survive. A.H. d’origine. Ann. Genet. Sel. anim. I, 105-110 Jolly (Editorial) Ltd. and Rare Breeds Survival Trust, U.K. Manwell, C. and C.M.A. Baker. 1980. Chemical classification of cattle 2. Phylogenetic tree Bowling, A.T. 1990. Population Genetics of and specific status of the Zebu. Anim. Bl. Grps. Curly Horses. In: (ed Alderson) Genetic Biochem. Genet. 11: 151-162 Conservation of Domestic Livestock. CAB International, U.K. Porter, V. 1992. Cattle; a Handbook to the Breeds of the World. A & C Black, London. Cothran, E.G. 1992. Private communication. Primo, A.T. 1990. A South American report, Epstein, H. 1970. The Origin of Domestic Ani- with special reference to Criollo cattle. In: mals of Africa. Leipzig. (ed Alderson) Genetic Conservation of Domestic Livestock. CAB International, U.K. Lauvergne, J.J. 1979. Modeles de repartition des populations domestiques animales apres Royle, N.J. 1983. Polymorphisms in Rare Breeds migration par vagues a partir d’un centre of Cattle. PhD Thesis, Reading.

Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 334.