Jutland cattle
Encyclopedia
Jutland cattle are a rare Danish
breed of cattle
used in both dairy
and beef
production. Bred from the indigenous cattle of Jutland
the breed could be light grey, dark grey or black pied with upward curving horns. The first herdbook published in 1881 had a small dairy type and a larger beef type. The dairy cows were small, averaging 120 cm high and weighing 350 kg, producing between 800 and 1000 kg of milk
per lactation.
In the first half of the 20th century the breed was extensively crossed with Dutch black and white cattle to boost milk production. By 1949 Dutch cattle and crosses were accepted into the herdbook and the name was changed to Danish Black and White Cattle. In 1955 the last purebred young bull was exhibited. Since 1987 the Jutland breed has been reconstructed using unregistered stock from farms which had avoided crossing their cattle with Dutch cattle. The modern cows are typically 132 cm tall at the withers and weigh 550 kg, while bulls are typically 145 cm tall and weigh 1000 kg. In 2004 there were 49 breeders with a total of 121 cows and 11 bulls. Breeders receive financial support from the Danish government to keep the breed.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
breed of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
used in both dairy
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
and beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
production. Bred from the indigenous cattle of Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
the breed could be light grey, dark grey or black pied with upward curving horns. The first herdbook published in 1881 had a small dairy type and a larger beef type. The dairy cows were small, averaging 120 cm high and weighing 350 kg, producing between 800 and 1000 kg of milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
per lactation.
In the first half of the 20th century the breed was extensively crossed with Dutch black and white cattle to boost milk production. By 1949 Dutch cattle and crosses were accepted into the herdbook and the name was changed to Danish Black and White Cattle. In 1955 the last purebred young bull was exhibited. Since 1987 the Jutland breed has been reconstructed using unregistered stock from farms which had avoided crossing their cattle with Dutch cattle. The modern cows are typically 132 cm tall at the withers and weigh 550 kg, while bulls are typically 145 cm tall and weigh 1000 kg. In 2004 there were 49 breeders with a total of 121 cows and 11 bulls. Breeders receive financial support from the Danish government to keep the breed.