Spanish Fighting Bull

Fighting Bull (Toro Bravo, "toro de lidia", "toro lidiado", "ganado bravo", "Touro de Lide") is an Iberian cattle breed. It is primarily bred free-range in extensive estates in Southern Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries where bull fighting is organized. [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle] Fighting bulls are selected primarily for a certain combination of aggressiveness, strength, vigor and intelligence:a smart bull that would not blindly ram could be too dangerous, an idle bull would make no spectacle, a bull without stamina could not last the whole three phases of the corrida, too strong a bull would require so much weakening work that the matador could not show his ability.

History of the breed

Fighting bulls can trace their origins to wild bulls from the Iberian Peninsula where its use as game cattle was made by the Roman Empire for Colosseum games. The breed retained the aggressiveness of its ancestor through selective breeding and came to be popular among the people of Spain, France and Portugal. It was later introduced to Latin America by Spanish conquistadores who wished to hold bullfights in their colonies.

Breed characteristics

The fighting bull is characterized by its aggressive behaviour under little or no provocation at all. Many are coloured black or dark brown, but other colorations are normal. They reach maturity slower than meat breeds as they were not selected to be heavy, instead having an "athletic" look and performance. Mature bulls weigh about 500 to 700 kg (1100–1600 lb).Among fighting cattle there are several "encastes" or sub types of the breed that present different phenotype and genotype. Some examples are Saltillo, Domecq, Santa Coloma and Albacerrada

In Spain and all countries where bullfights are held, after the fight, the meat is sold to restaurants as a delicacy.The head, the ears and the tail may be conserved as a trophy.

Growth

A fighting bull is born in specialized ranches and raised by its mother until one year, after which it is separated from the mother regardless of gender. Afterwards it is branded and sent with other bulls if male and with cows if female. When they reach two years or so, they are sent to the "tienta", in which they are tested to see if they qualify for bullfighting and breeding, the test consist of a simulation of a bullfight, so they recreate a lance third or tercio de varas, and released if male and if female they also recreate the tercio de muerte or death third but cows are not killed. If fit for bullfight they will return to their peers but if not they will be raised and sold for meat.

Cows passing the tienta will become mothers and die of old age while males will be bred until they reach three years.

After males have aged three years they are no longer considered calves, afterwards they are known as "novillo" and are apt for bullfighting, albeit "novilladas" are journeymen bullfights and corrida de toros are for master bullfighters. If not sent to the novillada they will be left for two more years until fit for a professional bullfight

If the bull is indulged (meaning his life was spared in the bullring due to outstanding behavior) it will be left to die of old age and in most cases it will become a stud for his owner's cows.

In natural circumstances its lifespan is 20-25 years.

They have monochromacy, making false the statement that the color red makes them angry, they just respond to the movement the "muleta" makes. The traditional red coloring used is to symbolize the flag of Spain when combined with a yellow underside or (infrequently) France when used in conjunction with a blue one.

ee also

* List of breeds of cattle

External links

* [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle Breeds of Livestock - Cattle]