Lourdais

Lourdais are a French breed of cattle from the Pyrenees. They are creamy white in colour with upward curving horns. Originally a multipurpose breed they are now used for beef.

History

This breed comes from a group of ancient yellow breeds, known for a long time in Aquitaine, parent of limousin breed. This breed was grouped with other yellow breeds as "Blondes des Pyrénées" before becoming Blonde d'Aquitaine in 1962. In the 1980s numbers fell to 30 cows and one bull. Today there are 170 cows and 20 bulls. A 'Ferme Conservatoire' maintains a herd of some twenty cows with good milking qualities.

Characteristics

The colour is white or yellow, with clear skin. The horns are long. The cow measures about 138 cm in height at 650 kg.

Uses

It was regarded as the best multipurpose breed in the Pyrenees [ [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle//lourdais/index.htm Breeds of Livestock] ] , used for hauling timber in the mountains and to produce milk (6,000kg of milk per lactation) which was often made into cheese. Today it is a beef breed.

ee also

* List of breeds of cattle
* cattle

References

* [http://www.inapg.inra.fr/dsa/especes/bovins/lourdais.htm lourdais]