Anyone who has visited the south west of Ireland may well have seen one or two herds of distinctive black cows around the place. These Irish black cattle are actually one of the oldest breeds still in existence in Europe, and are believed to have been brought the Emerald Isle around 2000 BC. Some small herds are in existence in North America.
In terms of its ancestry, this breed most likely has the Celtic Shorthorn cow as its primary ancestor. In Ireland, where the greatest numbers are still found, they are more often called Kerry Cattle, or Buinin. Another Gaelic name for them is Bo Chiarrai, while their English name is derived from their dark coats, usually almost uniformly black.
The breed is believed to have been developed to suit the specific environmental conditions found on small farms in the southern and western parts of Ireland. Rainfall tends to be very high in this part of the country, and there are plenty of upland areas. Cows of this type do much less damage than larger breeds to the soil in areas with this type of high rainfall.
The numbers in existence of this breed have undergone a massive rejuvenation in recent years, after a decline during the 20th century. An estimated 200 animals were left in existence by 1983, and the Irish government played a full part in ensuring the breed's continued survival. The government of the Republic of Ireland now keep a herd at the government farm estate of Farmleigh.
The breed is particularly well-known for the quality of milk that it produces. The typical weight of a cow of this breed is between 350 and 400 kilogrammes, and a typical animal will produce approximately 3700 grammes of milk per lactation. This kind of return has seen some major Irish ice cream manufacturers opt to use milk from this breed.
Any farmers in search of potent sire stock would be well advised to consider using an Kerry bull. Bulls of this breed are able to transmit a genetic domination of their offspring's characteristics, irrespective of the type of female with which they are mated. This leads to consistent quality of meat and other products.
The breed became popular in North America in the 19th century, with the first animals of this type arriving in the USA in 1818. Although the breed thrived in North America during the 1800s, by the time of the 1930s numbers in this part of the world had considerably declined. Many herds in existence in the US have been boosted by recent imports from Canada.
Irish black cattle are part of ancient lineage which goes back thousands of years, and were actually one of the first kinds of cow bred deliberately for their milk production. Analysis of their genes shows some relation to the Alpine Heren cattle, and the ferocious bulls of the Camargue, in France. Their skulls show signs that they might well be a smaller version of the ancient wild aurochs, highlighting the antiquity of the breed.
In terms of its ancestry, this breed most likely has the Celtic Shorthorn cow as its primary ancestor. In Ireland, where the greatest numbers are still found, they are more often called Kerry Cattle, or Buinin. Another Gaelic name for them is Bo Chiarrai, while their English name is derived from their dark coats, usually almost uniformly black.
The breed is believed to have been developed to suit the specific environmental conditions found on small farms in the southern and western parts of Ireland. Rainfall tends to be very high in this part of the country, and there are plenty of upland areas. Cows of this type do much less damage than larger breeds to the soil in areas with this type of high rainfall.
The numbers in existence of this breed have undergone a massive rejuvenation in recent years, after a decline during the 20th century. An estimated 200 animals were left in existence by 1983, and the Irish government played a full part in ensuring the breed's continued survival. The government of the Republic of Ireland now keep a herd at the government farm estate of Farmleigh.
The breed is particularly well-known for the quality of milk that it produces. The typical weight of a cow of this breed is between 350 and 400 kilogrammes, and a typical animal will produce approximately 3700 grammes of milk per lactation. This kind of return has seen some major Irish ice cream manufacturers opt to use milk from this breed.
Any farmers in search of potent sire stock would be well advised to consider using an Kerry bull. Bulls of this breed are able to transmit a genetic domination of their offspring's characteristics, irrespective of the type of female with which they are mated. This leads to consistent quality of meat and other products.
The breed became popular in North America in the 19th century, with the first animals of this type arriving in the USA in 1818. Although the breed thrived in North America during the 1800s, by the time of the 1930s numbers in this part of the world had considerably declined. Many herds in existence in the US have been boosted by recent imports from Canada.
Irish black cattle are part of ancient lineage which goes back thousands of years, and were actually one of the first kinds of cow bred deliberately for their milk production. Analysis of their genes shows some relation to the Alpine Heren cattle, and the ferocious bulls of the Camargue, in France. Their skulls show signs that they might well be a smaller version of the ancient wild aurochs, highlighting the antiquity of the breed.
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