Although numbers once declined considerably, Irish black cattle are now a much more familiar site, especially in the south west of Ireland. An ancient breed, which may have been brought to Ireland as early as 4000 years ago, their numbers have risen in recent years after a decline. Small numbers of this type of cow can be found in Canada and the United States, as well as Ireland.
This breed of cow is, in all likelihood, a descendant of the Celtic Shorthorn, and is found in greatest quantities in Ireland. In their native land, they are often referred to as Kerry Cattle, or, in Irish Gaelic, Bo Chiarrai or Buinin. They get their English name from their black hides, which usually only have a little white on them, by the udder.
This type of cow has developed as an ideal breed to live in the wet conditions of the west of Ireland, where rainfall is high. Larger breeds can often damage the soil in this type of area. Black cattle, however, operate in a much less harmful way, helping to better preserve the integrity of local soils.
Sadly, there was a huge decline in the numbers of Irish black cattle in existence in the late 20th century. By 1983, there were estimated to be only 200 pedigree beasts left alive, and that was across the whole world, not just in Ireland. The Irish government has played a major part in rebuilding those numbers, and maintains a herd at the Farmleigh estate, which is in government hands.
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.
As sire stock, the Kerry bull can be a highly valuable acquisition for stock farmers, as bulls of this breed are in possession of a highly concentrated gene pool. This gene pool means that their characteristics dominate in their offspring, whatever breed of female they are paired with. This leads to a great consistency of quality in the kind of meat that the breed produces.
Cattle of this type first arrived in the United States of America in 1818, and the breed remained popular throughout the 1800s. By the time the 1930s rolled around, however, there had been a serious reduction in the numbers of cows of this type in North America. Herds have grown recently, though, helped in the USA by imports from Canadian herds.
Irish black cattle were the first breed deliberately bred for their milk, and their genetic heritage is similar to the Heren of the high Alps of central Europe, as well as the fierce black bulls of France's Camargue. Analysis of their skulls shows that there might also be a link to the wild aurochs of the Stone Age. They truly are cattle from another age, perfectly adapted to modern farming conditions, and able to give both high quality milk and meat.
This breed of cow is, in all likelihood, a descendant of the Celtic Shorthorn, and is found in greatest quantities in Ireland. In their native land, they are often referred to as Kerry Cattle, or, in Irish Gaelic, Bo Chiarrai or Buinin. They get their English name from their black hides, which usually only have a little white on them, by the udder.
This type of cow has developed as an ideal breed to live in the wet conditions of the west of Ireland, where rainfall is high. Larger breeds can often damage the soil in this type of area. Black cattle, however, operate in a much less harmful way, helping to better preserve the integrity of local soils.
Sadly, there was a huge decline in the numbers of Irish black cattle in existence in the late 20th century. By 1983, there were estimated to be only 200 pedigree beasts left alive, and that was across the whole world, not just in Ireland. The Irish government has played a major part in rebuilding those numbers, and maintains a herd at the Farmleigh estate, which is in government hands.
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.
As sire stock, the Kerry bull can be a highly valuable acquisition for stock farmers, as bulls of this breed are in possession of a highly concentrated gene pool. This gene pool means that their characteristics dominate in their offspring, whatever breed of female they are paired with. This leads to a great consistency of quality in the kind of meat that the breed produces.
Cattle of this type first arrived in the United States of America in 1818, and the breed remained popular throughout the 1800s. By the time the 1930s rolled around, however, there had been a serious reduction in the numbers of cows of this type in North America. Herds have grown recently, though, helped in the USA by imports from Canadian herds.
Irish black cattle were the first breed deliberately bred for their milk, and their genetic heritage is similar to the Heren of the high Alps of central Europe, as well as the fierce black bulls of France's Camargue. Analysis of their skulls shows that there might also be a link to the wild aurochs of the Stone Age. They truly are cattle from another age, perfectly adapted to modern farming conditions, and able to give both high quality milk and meat.
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