Aubrac cattle
{{Short description|Breed of cattle}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use list-defined references|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox cattle breed
| name = Aubrac
| image = File:Vache_Aubrac.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt = a tawny-coloured cow with light extremities and a black nose.
| image_caption = Aubrac cow
| status = FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=143}}
| altname = Laguiole{{r|felius|p=219}}
| country = France
| distribution = Auvergne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées
| standard =
| use = meat
| maleweight = 950 kg{{r|brg}}
| femaleweight = 650 kg{{r|brg}}
| maleheight = 140 cm{{r|brg}}
| femaleheight = 129 cm{{r|brg}}
| skincolour = black
| coat = wheaten
| horn = horned in both sexes
| subspecies = taurus
| note =
}}
The Aubrac or Laguiole is a French breed of beef cattle. It originates on the Plateau de l'Aubrac in the Massif Central in central southern France, from which it also takes its name. It has a wheat-coloured coat and dark hooves, switch, muzzle and eyes.
History
{{See also|History of French cattle breeding}}
The Aubrac is a traditional breed of the Plateau de l'Aubrac in the Massif Central, which spans the modern départements of the Aveyron, the Cantal and the Lozère, in the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie.{{r|brg}} In the twenty-first century almost 90% of the breed population is concentrated in that area. A herd-book was started in 1893.{{r|cabi|p=114}}
Some limited cross-breeding took place in the twentieth century: with the Mézenc, now extinct, between 1935 and 1945; with the Maraîchine between 1945 and 1955; and with the Parthenaise between 1955 and 1975.{{r|brg}}
The conservation status of the Aubrac is 'not at risk'.{{r|barb|page=143}} In 2014 the population in France was reported at about {{val|170000}} head; for 2021 it was over {{val|506000}}.{{r|dad}} The cattle have been exported to a number of countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas; substantial numbers are reported by Ireland and Lithuania.{{r|dad2}}
Characteristics
The Aubrac is robust, frugal, fertile and long-lived, and is well adapted to the mountain environment of the Massif Central.{{r|brg}} It is reported to be resistant to trypanosomiasis, the "sleeping-sickness" transmitted by tsetse flies.{{r|dad}}
It has a uniformly wheaten coat, ranging from a pale greyish white to a light brown tinged with orange-yellow.{{r|cabi|p=114}} The skin, hooves, muzzle, tongue, switch and natural openings are all black; there is a pale ring round the muzzle.{{r|cabi|p=114|brg}} Bulls may carry darker markings to the coat.{{r|brg}} The horns are lyre-shaped and tipped with black. Bulls stand about {{val|140|u=cm}} at the withers and weigh some {{val|900|–|1300|u=kg}}; cows stand some {{val|125|-|130|u=cm}} and weigh about {{val|600|–|800|u=kg}}.{{r|cabi|p=114|brg|dad}}
Use
The Aubrac was formerly reared as a draught and dairy animal, but is now raised principally for beef. Under certain conditions this can be marketed as Fin Gras du Mézenc.{{r|aoc}} Bullocks weigh about {{val|310|u=kg}} when weaned.{{r|brg}}
Some of the cows are of dairy type, and are milked; they will only give milk if their calf is with them.{{r|cabi|p=114}} Some of the milk is used in the production of Laguiole cheese; it is hoped that this proportion may reach 10%.{{r|lag}}
References
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{{Cattle breeds of France}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aubrac (Cattle)}}
Category:Cattle breeds originating in France
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