Abondance cattle
{{Short description|French breed of cattle}}
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{{Infobox cattle breed
| name = Abondance
| image = Vache Abondance en alpage (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image2 =
| image_size2 =
| image_alt2 =
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| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=143}}|DAD-IS (2024): not at risk{{r|dad}}}}
| altname = {{ubl|Chablaisienne|Pie Rouge Française de Montagne}}
| country = France
| distribution = {{ubl|Rhône-Alpes|Auvergne}}
| standard =
| use =
| weight =
| maleweight = 1000 kg{{r|dad}}
| femaleweight = 580 kg{{r|dad}}
| height =
| maleheight = 146 cm{{r|dad}}
| femaleheight = 133 cm{{r|dad}}
| skincolour =
| coat = red with white head, belly, lower legs and tail switch; red patch round the eye{{r|dad}}
| horn = light, black-tipped
| subspecies = taurus
| note =
}}
The Abondance is a French breed of dairy cattle. It originated in the high valleys of Haute-Savoie and shares its name with the commune and valley of Abondance and the former canton of {{ill|Canton d'Abondance|fr|lt=Abondance}} in that region. Its area of origin lies within the former Chablais province of the Duchy of Savoy, and until the late nineteenth century it was for that reason known as the Chablaisienne.
It is distributed principally in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and is well adapted to rough grazing on mountain terrain. It is the fourth-most numerous French breed of dairy cattle; most of the milk produced is used to make Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses such as Abondance and Reblochon.
History
The Abondance originated in the French or Savoyard part of the former Chablais province of the Duchy of Savoy, and until the late nineteenth century it was for that reason known as the Chablaisienne. A herd-book was started in 1891{{r|cabi|p=98}} or 1894,{{r|dad}} and the name was changed at that time to the present one.{{r|cabi|p=98}}
It is the fourth-most numerous French breed of dairy cattle, and is distributed principally in the former administrative regions of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes, now merged to form Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.{{r|cabi|p=98}} In 2021 there was a total population of about {{val|78000}} head, with 260 bulls and {{val|44148}} breeding cows distributed in almost {{val|2000}} herds; in 2024 the conservation status of the breed was "not at risk".{{r|dad}} Some have been exported to countries in Africa and Asia and to Canada and South Africa;{{r|cabi|p=98}} in 2024 none were reported to DAD-IS from any country other than France.{{r|dad2}}
Characteristics
The cattle are of medium size: cows weigh between {{val|550|and|800|u=kg}} and stand on average some {{val|1.33|u=m}} at the withers; bulls weigh some {{val|850|to|1100|u=kg}}, with an average height of {{val|1.46|u=m}}.{{r|cabi|p=98|dad}}
The coat is a rich mahogany red, with white head, belly, lower legs and tail switch; there are patches of red round the eyes. Horns are present in both sexes; they are light, black-tipped and set on high.{{r|serge|p=146|dad}}
Use
The cattle are reared for milk, for meat and for conservation grazing;{{r|felius|p=196}} they forage well on coarse pasture. The average milk yield is {{val|6274|u=kg}}{{r|cabi|p=98}} or about {{val|5950|u=kg}}{{r|brg}} in a standardised lactation of 302 days.{{r|brg}} The milk contains on average {{val|3.74|u=%}} milk fat and {{val|3.29|u=%}} protein.{{r|brg}} Some {{val|80|u=%}} of it is traditionally used to produce Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses such as Reblochon, Abondance, Tome des Bauges and Beaufort and Indication Géographique Protégée cheeses such as Émmental de Savoie and Tomme de Savoie.{{r|marie|p=39|ft}}
References
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{{Cattle breeds of France}}
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