Conservation status FAO (2007): critical Country of origin France Weight Female: 650 kg Higher classification Cattle | Other names Armoricaine Distribution Brittany Scientific name Bos taurus Rank Breed | |
 | ||
Use dual-purpose, meat and milk Similar Froment du Léon, Aure et Saint‑Girons, Ferrandaise, Pie Rouge des Plaines, Bretonne Pie Noir | ||
The Armorican, French: Armoricaine, is an endangered French breed of domestic cattle. It originated in Brittany in the nineteenth century. It has a red coat with white markings, and has short horns.
Contents
History
The Armoricaine was created in the nineteenth century by cross-breeding animals of the local Froment du Léon and the now-extinct Pie Rouge de Carhaix breeds with imported Durham (now known as Shorthorn) stock from the United Kingdom. A herd-book was started in 1919, and the Armoricaine breed name came into use in 1923.
The Armoricaine was used, with Meuse-Rhine-Issel and Rotbunt stock, in the creation of the Pie Rouge des Plaines dairy breed of cattle in the 1960s. It has become rare: it was listed by the FAO as "critically endangered" in 2007.:136 In 2005, the population was estimated at about 240 head, and in 2014 it was 263.
Description
The coat is red, with some white markings. The horns are short. Cows weigh about 650 kg, and stand about 138 cm at the withers.
Use
The Armoricaine is a dual-purpose breed, and may be raised both for meat and for milk. Cows produce about 4500 l of milk in a lactation of about 305 days. The young grow quickly, and mature animals fatten quickly.