Anyone who has visited the south west of Ireland may well have seen one or two herds of distinctive black cows around the place. These Irish black cattle are actually one of the oldest breeds still in existence in Europe, and are believed to have been brought the Emerald Isle around 2000 BC. Some small herds are in existence in North America.
In terms of its ancestry, this breed most likely has the Celtic Shorthorn cow as its primary ancestor. In Ireland, where the greatest numbers are still found, they are more often called Kerry Cattle, or Buinin. Another Gaelic name for them is Bo Chiarrai, while their English name is derived from their dark coats, usually almost uniformly black.
The breed has become a specialist for living in the kind of conditions which are generally found in the south west of Ireland, especially on smaller, upland farms. Ireland, especially this part of the country, is famous for its high rainfall. This breed of cow does not damage the soil in the way that larger kinds do in wet areas, where the harm done to the soil can be considerable at times.
The numbers in existence of this breed have undergone a massive rejuvenation in recent years, after a decline during the 20th century. An estimated 200 animals were left in existence by 1983, and the Irish government played a full part in ensuring the breed's continued survival. The government of the Republic of Ireland now keep a herd at the government farm estate of Farmleigh.
The milk that this type of cow produces is generally percieved to be of high quality, and very creamy. This has prompted some iconic Irish ice cream makers to opt to use the milk of Kerry cows, as it is deemed to be ideal for making ice cream. An average cow of this breed, weighing between 350 and 400 kilogrammes, can usually produce, in a typical lactation, some 3700 grammes of good quality milk; a fine return.
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.
The breed became popular in North America in the 19th century, with the first animals of this type arriving in the USA in 1818. Although the breed thrived in North America during the 1800s, by the time of the 1930s numbers in this part of the world had considerably declined. Many herds in existence in the US have been boosted by recent imports from Canada.
Irish black cattle are part of ancient lineage which goes back thousands of years, and were actually one of the first kinds of cow bred deliberately for their milk production. Analysis of their genes shows some relation to the Alpine Heren cattle, and the ferocious bulls of the Camargue, in France. Their skulls show signs that they might well be a smaller version of the ancient wild aurochs, highlighting the antiquity of the breed.
In terms of its ancestry, this breed most likely has the Celtic Shorthorn cow as its primary ancestor. In Ireland, where the greatest numbers are still found, they are more often called Kerry Cattle, or Buinin. Another Gaelic name for them is Bo Chiarrai, while their English name is derived from their dark coats, usually almost uniformly black.
The breed has become a specialist for living in the kind of conditions which are generally found in the south west of Ireland, especially on smaller, upland farms. Ireland, especially this part of the country, is famous for its high rainfall. This breed of cow does not damage the soil in the way that larger kinds do in wet areas, where the harm done to the soil can be considerable at times.
The numbers in existence of this breed have undergone a massive rejuvenation in recent years, after a decline during the 20th century. An estimated 200 animals were left in existence by 1983, and the Irish government played a full part in ensuring the breed's continued survival. The government of the Republic of Ireland now keep a herd at the government farm estate of Farmleigh.
The milk that this type of cow produces is generally percieved to be of high quality, and very creamy. This has prompted some iconic Irish ice cream makers to opt to use the milk of Kerry cows, as it is deemed to be ideal for making ice cream. An average cow of this breed, weighing between 350 and 400 kilogrammes, can usually produce, in a typical lactation, some 3700 grammes of good quality milk; a fine return.
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.
The breed became popular in North America in the 19th century, with the first animals of this type arriving in the USA in 1818. Although the breed thrived in North America during the 1800s, by the time of the 1930s numbers in this part of the world had considerably declined. Many herds in existence in the US have been boosted by recent imports from Canada.
Irish black cattle are part of ancient lineage which goes back thousands of years, and were actually one of the first kinds of cow bred deliberately for their milk production. Analysis of their genes shows some relation to the Alpine Heren cattle, and the ferocious bulls of the Camargue, in France. Their skulls show signs that they might well be a smaller version of the ancient wild aurochs, highlighting the antiquity of the breed.
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