Lourdais
Encyclopedia
Lourdais are a French
breed of cattle
from the Pyrenees
. They are creamy white in colour with upward curving horns. Originally a multipurpose breed they are now used for beef
.
, parent of limousin
breed. This breed was grouped with other yellow breeds as "Blondes des Pyrénées" before becoming Blonde d'Aquitaine
in 1962. In the 1980s numbers fell to 30 cows and one bull. Today there are 170 cows and 20 bulls. A 'Ferme Conservatoire' maintains a herd of some twenty cows with good milking qualities.
The cow measures about 138 cm in height at 650 kg.
) which was often made into cheese
. Today it is a beef
breed.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
breed of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
from the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. They are creamy white in colour with upward curving horns. Originally a multipurpose breed they are now used for beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
.
History
This breed comes from a group of ancient yellow breeds, known for a long time in AquitaineAquitaine
Aquitaine , archaic Guyenne/Guienne , is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, :Lot et Garonne, :Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes...
, parent of limousin
Limousin (cattle)
Limousin cattle are a breed of highly muscled beef cattle originating from the Limousin and Marche regions of France. The breed is known as Limousine in France. Limousins were first exported from France in significant numbers in the 1960s and are now present in about 70 countries...
breed. This breed was grouped with other yellow breeds as "Blondes des Pyrénées" before becoming Blonde d'Aquitaine
Blonde d'Aquitaine
Blonde d'Aquitaine is a breed of beef cattle originating from the Aquitaine district in south west of France embracing the area of the Garonne valley and the Pyrenees. The breed is a combination of three local strains, the Garonnais, the Quercy, and the Blonde des Pyrenees. Blondes were...
in 1962. In the 1980s numbers fell to 30 cows and one bull. Today there are 170 cows and 20 bulls. A 'Ferme Conservatoire' maintains a herd of some twenty cows with good milking qualities.
Characteristics
The colour is white or yellow, with clear skin. The horns are long.The cow measures about 138 cm in height at 650 kg.
Uses
It was regarded as the best multipurpose breed in the Pyrenees, used for hauling timber in the mountains and to produce milk (6,000kg of milk per lactationLactation
Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young. The process occurs in all female mammals, however it predates mammals. In humans the process of feeding milk is called breastfeeding or nursing...
) which was often made into cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
. Today it is a beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
breed.