The categorisation of types and breeds of cattle in Europe (Categorización de tipos y razas de vacuno en Europa)

Alderson L.

Description

Abstract
The domestication of cattle in Europe and North Africa dates back at least 8000 years. The Middle East was an early site of domestication but there is evidence of domesticated cattle in other parts of Europe at about this time. Subsequent movements of peoples and the development of cultural exchange affected the livestock populations. The understanding of the relationship between european breeds and types of cattle can be increased by a multi-disciplinary approach including ethnological, archaeological and sociohistorical data, in conjunction with morphological characterisation and biochemical studies of livestock breeds and populations. Four european groups of cattle have been identified, namely the podolic of asian origin, the shorthorn of northern european origin, the central european group containing types of mixed origin, and the longhorn group in the western fringes of Europe, which may be remnants of cattle of the earliest civilisation.
Resumen
La domesticación de los bovinos en Europa y Norte de Africa data de al menos 8000 años. El Oriente medio fue un lugar primitivo de domesticación pero hay también evidencias coetáneas del proceso en otras partes de Europa. Los movimientos migratorios de los pueblos y el consiguiente intercambio cultural afectaron a las poblaciones ganaderas. La comprensión de las relaciones entre las razas y tipos europeos de ganado puede aumentarse mediante un análisis multidisciplinario, que incluya datos etnológicos, arqueológicos y sociohistóricos, así como la caracterización morfológica y estudios bioquímicos de las razas y poblaciones ganaderas. Se han identificado cuatro grupos de bovinos europeos: podólico, de origen asiático
shorthorn del norte de Europa
el de Europa Central con tipos de origen mixto y el longhorn, del extremo occidental de Europa que pueden ser relictos de los bovinos primitivos.

Sujets

• Americas
• Domestication
• Ethnology
• Domesticación
• Etnología

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1992
• Nombre de lectures: 14
• Langue: English

Extrait

EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE
THE CATEGORISATION OF TYPES AND BREEDS OF
CATTLE IN EUROPE
CATEGORIZACION DE TIPOS Y RAZAS DE VACUNO EN EUROPA
Alderson, L.
Rare Breeds Survival Trust. National Agricultural Centre, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, U.K.
Additional Keywords Palabras clave adicionales
Americas. Domestication. Ethnology. AmØricas. Domesticaci n. Etnolog a.
SUMMARY
The domestication of cattle in Europe and domesticaci n pero hay tambiØn evidencias
North Africa dates back at least 8000 years. The coetÆneas del proceso en otras partes de Europa.
Middle East was an early site of domestication but Los movimientos migratorios de los pueblos y el
there is evidence of domesticated cattle in other consiguiente intercambio cultural afectaron a las
parts of Europe at about this time. Subsequent poblaciones ganaderas. La comprensi n de las
movements of peoples and the development of relaciones entre las razas y tipos europeos de
cultural exchange affected the livestock popula- ganado puede aumentarse mediante un anÆlisis
tions. The understanding of the relationship multidisciplinario, que incluya datos etnol gicos,
between european breeds and types of cattle can arqueol gicos y sociohist ricos, as como la
be increased by a multi-disciplinary approach caracterizaci n morfol gica y estudios bioqu mi-
including ethnological, archaeological and socio- cos de las razas y poblaciones ganaderas. Se han
historical data, in conjunction with morphologi- identificado cuatro grupos de bovinos europeos:
cal characterisation and biochemical studies of pod lico, de origen asiÆtico; shorthorn del norte
livestock breeds and populations. Four european de Europa; el de Europa Central con tipos de
groups of cattle have been identified, namely the origen mixto y el longhorn, del extremo occidental
podolic of asian origin, the shorthorn of north- de Europa que pueden ser relictos de los bovinos
ern european origin, the central european group primitivos.
containing types of mixed origin, and the long-
horn group in the western fringes of Europe,
which may be remnants of cattle of the earliest SOURCES OF EVIDENCE
civilisation.
Evidence for ancestral relationships
between breeds of cattle may be
RESUMEN sought in several research fields viz:
La domesticaci n de los bovinos en Europa I. PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISATION.
y Norte de Africa data de al menos 8000 aæos. El Those characteristics which have been
Oriente medio fue un lugar primitivo de influenced least by environmental
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 325.Arch. Zootec. 41 (extra): 325 334. 1992.ALDERSON
effect or artificial selection pressure by the Shorthorn and South Devon
will provide the best evidence, while breeds from Britain several decades
the effects of convergent or divergent ago.
evolution will serve to confuse the
evaluation. 2. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE. Historical
Morphology can provide useful evidence may be obtained from several
evidence. For example, the shape and sources. Firstly, archaeological sites
size of the head and the horns in yield large quantities of osteological
general are likely to have been affected material which can provide a general
less by selection. picture of the most common types of
The predominant colour of a cattle at different periods. However,
population may also be indicative of much of the evidence from this
its origin, although it may have been source in the past has been misleading.
influenced during its later Secondly, cave or tomb paintings
development by religion, culture and from an early period have been found
fashion. For example, the colour of in Europe and North Africa. These
cattle was of great importance to the probably give a more accurate
Celts: red animals symbolised fertility representation of the type of cattle,
and crops, black animals pestilence subject to the artistic licence of the
and death, and white animals the artist(s) and possible misinterpre
worship of the sun. However, colour tation by later generations.
alone without corroborating evidence Thirdly, ethnological studies are
can be misleading. On a farm in particularly valuable and the
England, calves with the colour pattern movement and migration of peoples
of Gloucester cattle resulted from is likely to have been a significant
matings of a Jersey x Charolais bull factor in the distribution of livestock.
with Friesian cows. Where the movement was rapid, or
Size and conformation are likely to where the purpose was plunder, the
be less useful criteria; they are easily effect may have been limited, but
and rapidly affected by environmental where trade and or settlement was the
conditions and systems of manage prime objective the movement of
ment. For example, a White Park cow cattle would have been an integral
weighs 630 640 kg, but its feral part of the process.
cousin the Chillingham, which has
evolved separately for more than 700 3. BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE. The
years, weighs only 280 kg. development of techniques such as
Phenotypic characterisation should blood typing, genetic finger printing
be interpreted with the benefit of and other forms of DNA analysis has
other evidence. For example, provided further opportunities to study
morphological studies of the Rubia breed relationships and make genetic
Gallega breed in North West Iberia distance calculations.
are of limited value because the breed Several studies have been carried
experienced significant introgression out to calculate genetic distance. Royle
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 326.EUROPEAN TYPES AND BREEDS OF CATTLE
(1980) studied several british breeds distant from the centre of diffusion
of cattle; Manwell and Baker (1980) are the oldest and most primitive
covered a different range of breeds of breeds.
cattle; Bowling (1990) and Cothran The alternative explanation is that
(1992) have studied many breeds of Bos primigenius (Aurochs) was
horses but their results do not agree domesticated at several different sites
in some respects. in Europe and North Africa and the
Limitations on the value of such variety in the morphology of cattle
studies result from population would tend to support this proposition.
bottlenecks and subsequent inbree There is evidence of ploughing in the
ding in many breeds, and these lower Danube Valley (circa 4500 BC),
together with unequal founder effect in England and Poland (circa 3500
may distort the results. The accuracy BC) and in Southern Spain (before
of this evidence also relies on 3000 BC). Domesticated cattle in the
knowledge of introgression suffered northern Sahara (6500 4000 BC) are
by a breed so that only pure depicted in rock paintings and show
representatives of the original type longhorned humpless cattle of various
should be included in the study, but colours and patterns. Similarly in
it is clear that this requirement is not Egypt (2500 1500 BC) cattle
always properly recognised. exhibited varying characteristics
including polledness. The Minoan
civilisation in Crete (circa 1500 BC)
SITES OF DOMESTICATION placed great emphasis on the bull
culture and the bulls used in the sport
A further question that needs to be of bull leaping were longhorned and
addressed is the identification of the spotted or pied. Cattle were used at an
site(s) of domestication. All domestic early stage for milk, meat, manure
Bos taurus cattle are descended from and draught.
the Aurochs, whose range extended This paper does not seek to explore
westwards from a line linking the the validity or relative merits of these
Gulf of Finland and the Persian Gulf, theories. It will assess the evidence
including North Africa but excluding from morphological and historical
Scandinavia except for Denmark and information to construct a pattern of
the southern tip of Sweden. relationship between breeds of cattle
Probably cattle were domesticated in Europe.
first in Sumeria, and it is possible that
all domesticated cattle derive from
this single centre of civilisation CURRENT CATTLE TYPES IN
spreading gradually to all parts of EUROPE
Europe. There is some evidence to
support this hypothesis (Epstein, 1970). The evaluation of the phenotypic
A theory has been advanced by characteristics of each breed of cattle
Lauvergne (1979) to demonstrate that in Europe enables a broad pattern of
the breeds which are found most types to be drawn.
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 327.ALDERSON
In some cases this information is Sussex, Shorthorn (all England). This
devalued because of recent and group also later influenced breed
significant introgression and has been development by widespread use of
discarded. Thus the phenotype of the Shorthorn cattle from England in the
Salers breed in France was changed development of breeds such as the
by crossing with Highland and Devon Bleue du Nord and Maine Anjou.
cattle from Britain; the Mertola of
Portugal is the result of relatively 3. CENTRAL EUROPE.
recent crossing with the Berrenda and (a) Swiss group.
the Alentajana; while the Cacereña of - Distribution: Alpine region,
Extremadura has suffered some northern Italy.
introgression from northern European - Short head, medium/short horns
breeds. curving upwards.
The following types of native - Mainly shades of grey and brown;
cattle