Belgian Red cattle


The Belgian Red is a cattle breed from Flanders in Belgium. It is considered in danger of extinction.

Characteristics

Belgian Reds are primarily solid red with potentially a few white patches on head, dewlap, underline and legs, and udder or scrotum. They are generally long, large and heavy animals.
This breed is primarily a dual purpose breed, being raised for both meat and milk. However, after 1980's selection for two separate strains were created by the breeders of this breed.
The milk performance of cows in 2004 was about 5,000 kg milk with 4.27% milk fat content and 3.43% protein.

History and extension

The breed's original region is Flanders of France and West Flanders of Belgium. In the 19th century the new breed was developed out of the local breeds, Cassel and Veurne-Ambacht of the region. These original breeds nearly came into extinction during World War I in Belgium. After the war, the breeders came together in cooperation to form a new breed. In 1920 the first stud book was introduced.
In 1986 there were still about 50,000 Belgian Red cattle left in the region, but the population decreased rapidly. In 2001 there were recorded to be less than 100 of the cattle left in the world.