Taurus Project

In 1996 the conservation group {{lang|de|italic=no|Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz}} in Germany started to crossbreed Heck cattle with primitive cattle from Southern Europe such as Chianina, Sayaguesa Cattle and the Spanish fighting bull in the Lippeaue reserve near the town of Soest. The purpose was and is an increased resemblance to the extinct aurochs, because they considered Heck cattle not satisfying. For example, they write in one of their publications: "The 'recreations' by the Heck brothers are too small, too short-legged, not elegant and their horns are not satisfying".ABU info 06/07: Bunzel-Drüke, Scharf & Vierhaus: [http://www.abu-naturschutz.de/downloads/finish/15-abuinfo-2006-2007/95-lydia.html "Lydias Ende – eine Tragikomödie."] ABU info 30/31 (2006/07), pp. 58–67. {{in lang|de}} Therefore, the goal is to breed cattle that are considerably larger, more long-legged and long-snouted and have horns curving forwards, in addition to possessing the wild type colour scheme that was already present in the population.Cis van Vuure: [http://members.chello.nl/~t.vanvuure/oeros/uk/lutra.pdf History, Morphology and Ecology of the Aurochs (Bos primigenius).] 2002. In 2003 breeding herds were started in Hungary and Denmark, and in 2004 one was begun in Latvia.

In Germany, Taurus cattle herds are crossed with Chianina and Sayaguesa, two very tall breeds, and initially also the Spanish fighting bull (Toro de Lidia). The crossbred animals in the Lippeaue reserve, the most important breeding location, are composed of 47% Sayaguesa, 29% Heck cattle, 20% Chianina and 4% Lidia on average.Internationales Zuchtbuch für Heckrinder

Taurus cattle are listed in the herdbook X of the German Heck cattle association VFA. There is an increasing interest of Heck cattle breeders in using Taurus cattle because of their larger resemblance to the aurochs, so that there is a continuum between Taurus cattle and un-crossed Heck cattle.Bunzel-Drüke, Finck, Kämmer, Luick, Reisinger, Riecken, Riedl, Scharf & Zimball: Wilde Weiden: Praxisleitfaden für Ganzjahresbeweidung in Naturschutz und Landschaftsentwicklung. ABU 2008. {{ISBN|978-3-0002-4385-1}}

Hortobágy National Park in Hungary has the largest herd of Taurus cattle so far. In 2012, the herd counted 500–600 individuals of which around 200 are mature cows.[http://www.hnp.hu/en/szervezeti-egyseg/tourism/oldal/breeding-of-reconstructed-aurochs “Breeding of the reconstructed aurochs,”] Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park, 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016. In addition to crossbred cattle that were imported from Germany, Ankole-Watusi, Hungarian Grey cattle crosses and one half-Holstein Friesian cow are used.Walter Frisch: Der Auerochs – Das europäische Rind. 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-00-026764-2}}. There are two sub-herds, a main herd at Pentezug and another one at Karácsonyfok.Waltraut Zimmermann, Lydia Kolter, Istvan Sandor: [http://www.koelner-zoo.de/takhi/PDF/Heft1_2005_Hortobagy.pdf ″Naturschutzprojekt Hortobagy – Jahresbericht 2003.″] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021910/http://www.koelner-zoo.de/takhi/PDF/Heft1_2005_Hortobagy.pdf |date=2013-12-03 }} Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo 2004. {{in lang|de}} Studies in the national park showed that cattle are less adapted to dry, cold grasslands than the park's Przewalski horses, and until a few years ago the cattle were supplementary fed.Julia Poettinger: [http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/13380/1/Poettinger_Julia.pdf Vergleichende Studie zur Haltung und zum Verhalten des Wisents und des Heckrinds.] 2011. {{in lang|de}} The winter of 2011 was the first winter in which additional food was not necessary.Waltraut Zimmermann, Lydia Kolter, Istvan Sandor: [http://www.koelnerzoo.de/fileadmin/Downloads/Zeitschriften/54421_Koelner-Zoo_01-2012.pdf ″Naturschutzprojekt Hortobagy – Jahresbericht 2011.″] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090101/http://www.koelnerzoo.de/fileadmin/Downloads/Zeitschriften/54421_Koelner-Zoo_01-2012.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }} Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo 2012. {{in lang|de}}

File:Urokse.jpg × Heck) from Lille Vildmose, 2004]]

File:Taurus bull skull.jpg

Taurus breeding was initiated in Lille Vildmose Nature Reserve under the name Projekt Urokse ("Project Aurochs").[https://web.archive.org/web/20051028215321/http://www.nja.dk/NR/rdonlyres/ecwlmvg5bshiwvkk573oixwfdzty2cdygur226qyl2ydxxk2rjn3rz27kdsqapwukqtxy6q7axs4jb2ggzt3hrza5td/FolderUrokseprojekt.pdf Projekt Urokse – A pilot project from Lille Vildmose National Park] pdf. The Amt of Northern Jutland. 2005. Retrieved 26 November 2013. {{in lang|da}} The founding herd consisted of one Chianina × Heck bull, four Heck cows and one Sayaguesa × Heck cow, and in 2009 three Sayaguesa bulls were added; by 2010 the herd had grown to 56 individuals.Uffe Gjøl Sørensen: [http://www.aalborgkommune.dk/kultur-og-fritid/Natur/Naturomraader/Lillevildmose/Documents/Status-rapport-endelig.pdf Vildokserne ved Lille Vildmose 2003–2010. Status rapport med anbefalinger til projektets forvaltning.] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20131114130052/http://www.aalborgkommune.dk/kultur-og-fritid/Natur/Naturomraader/Lillevildmose/Documents/Status-rapport-endelig.pdf Archived version.]) København: UG Sørensen Consult, 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2013. {{in lang|da}}

In Latvia, Taurus cattle are being bred by WWF Latvia. In February 2004, besides two German animals 21 head of Dutch Heck cattle were brought to Pape Nature Reserve,[http://www.tvnet.lv/zala_zeme/daba/165799-tauru_pecteci_atgriezusies_papes_plavas Tauru pēcteči atgriezušies Papes pļavās!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525201243/http://www.tvnet.lv/zala_zeme/daba/165799-tauru_pecteci_atgriezusies_papes_plavas |date=2014-05-25 }} www.tvnet.lv, 4 March 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014. {{in lang|lv}} in October another 18 head of Dutch Heck cattle followed.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200759/http://www.tvnet.lv/zala_zeme/daba/166309-ierodas_24_jauni_dzivnieki_savvalas_zirgi_un_tauri Ierodas 24 jauni dzīvnieki - savvaļas zirgi un tauri.] www.tvnet.lv, 14 October 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014. {{in lang|lv}}

Most Taurus cattle are long-legged and comparatively slender. An increase in size was achieved, as large Taurus bulls measure 165 cm at the withers while normal Heck bulls measure only 140 cm. Particularly, the Sayaguesa-influenced animals are long-snouted.

;Lippeaue (Germany)

Taurus cattle Lippeaue.JPG|"Londo" (centre): 50% Sayaguesa, 25% Heck, 25% Chianina; son of Lamarck

Taurus cattle Lippeaue7.JPG|"Larissa": Chianina × (Sayaguesa × (Heck × Chianina))

Taurus cattle Lippeaue6.JPG

Taurus cattle Lippeaue9.JPG

Taurus cattle Lippeaue4.JPG

Taurus bull Latino.jpg|"Latino": 50% Sayaguesa, 25% Fighting cattle, 25% Heck

Taurus cattle Lippeaue10.JPG|"Larwin" (centre): 50% Sayaguesa, 37,5% Heck, 12,5% Chianina; cow at right: Heck × Sayaguesa

Taurus cattle Lippeaue8.JPG

• Tauros Programme
• Uruz Project

{{reflist|45em}}

{{Commons category|Taurus cattle}}

• Margret Bunzel-Drüke, Edgar Reisinger: [http://www.aalborgkommune.dk/kultur-og-fritid/Natur/Naturomraader/Lillevildmose/Documents/TaurusCattle_2010-ny.pdf Taurus cattle. A stand-in for the aurochs.] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20131115071414/http://www.aalborgkommune.dk/kultur-og-fritid/Natur/Naturomraader/Lillevildmose/Documents/TaurusCattle_2010-ny.pdf Archived version.]) 2010. Pdf of ppt. Retrieved 24 May 2014.

Category:Cattle breeding

Category:Ecological experiments

Category:1996 establishments in Germany

Category:Rewilding