Bovine Breeding in Belgium and in the Netherlands

This area of Europe is a " dish pays" rich and well sprinkled grounds. Favourable with the bovine breeding, this last with however of cohabiting with the cereal cultures.

Origin and history

It is the area of birth of the large branch of the Races of the littoral of the North Sea. It includes/understands the most exported races, and most productive. The perfect example is the holstein.
According to Durand and Leveau, as a Gaulle of north the Romans found bovines of bigger size than in the south. (It is necessary to keep in memory that the low valley of the Rhine was called at the time “Gaulle Belgium”). Therefore, as of the Antiquity, the bovine population was large, probably due to its ancestor, Bos primigenius , the Aurochs.
During centuries, people crossed the area, settled there and their cattle métissé itself with that of the autochtones. With the the Middle Ages, this area becomes very prosperous with the trade of the Flemish merchants . Their work claims products resulting from the culture of the ground: flax, hemp for drapery, hop and barley for the brewery… To cultivate these large grounds, of the powerful equine races are used. Thus, the cattle population passes it almost in the second plan. It is what will make its force. Raised on small surfaces in an area densément populated, the selection starts very early. The stockbreeders seek to produce the most possible cheese with the minimum of surface and the minimum of cows. This work undertaken during more than thousand years will give races very specialized in the dairy production.
More in the south, in the of the Ardennes solid mass, the horses are used for the Débardage and the cultivable pieces are small because of the relief. The cattle population becomes a means of developing the nonarable zones, and the oxen find an employment in the ploughings. In this area, some races will be selected on their co-education.

Current breeding

It is marked by a dairy prépondérence. The black magpie reigns as a Master, having relegated to the second plan the other races. The production is used to feed the milk industries and cheese-making.
Une race bouchère very specialized then appeared, the Blanc Belgian blue. This race resulting from a mixed race was selected. (with excess according to some) It is a race intended to develop calves of milch cows. Crossed with the BBB, they give young people to the exceptional growth, and the very required carcasses in butchery.

Current races

Traditional

Races of the littoral of the North Sea: holstein, Red holstein MRY Black and white Belgian red
Red of the Baltic: red of Flandres Western

Imported

Notes and references of the article

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