Abondance Cattle is a mixed race breed which originated in
the high valleys of Haute-Savoie, France.
They are medium-sized; the females weigh between 580 and 680
kilograms (kg) and stand 1.30 meters tall the bulls weigh between 645 and 820
kilograms (kg). The females are golden brown with a white head, underside of
the abdomen, and extremities of its legs; they stand about 1.70 meters tall.
The bull’s color is different, with a chestnut red and a bit of white on the
head.
Abondance Cattle milk is rich in both fat and protein, with
a good balance between the two. The milk is traditionally used to produce,
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheese such as reblochon, Abondance, tome
des Bauges, and Beaufort. Typical milk production is 5700 kg per lactation.
They are especially appreciated for their ablity to
withstand extreme variations in temperature, their fertility, ease of breeding,
milk, long life and meat. Abondance Cattle come from the Chablais in
Haute-Savoie, where they were bred by the monks of the abbaye de Saint-Maurice
d'Agaune since the 12th century. They were originally known as Chablaisienne
cattle.
Currently, there are about 150,000 head of Abondance cattle
in France. They have also been exported to North America, United Kingdom, New
Zealand, Iraq and Africa. In West Africa, they have been cross bred with N'dama
cattle.
About Abondance Cattle
