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Place of Origin | Portugal |
Origin | The Cachena Cattle were bred from brown and yellow local cattle in Northern Portugal. The Cachena Cattle were originally bred in the Vila Real District, an agriculturally poor district in the extreme north of Portugal. Climate is hot and dry in summer, cold and humid in winter. The grounds are arduous and little fertile. The Cachena Cattle are distributed around the low mountain range regions of the communities in the Spanish natural park Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés in the frontier region to Portugal. In addition they are spread in the region around the Ourensic village Olelas and in the Portuguese Peneda-Gerês National Park. It is a very rustic breed, excellently adapted to its environment. The Cachena Cattle are kept in the nature. Their good sense of smell helps them to search for rare herbs in the bush land. The cows are very good mothers and treat their calves exemplarily. The small height may be an adaption to the hostile environment: a small cow needs less energy and survives starving periods. |
Purpose | Originally the Cachena Cattle were a triple-purpose (beef, dairy and work) cattle breed. Nowadays they are only used for beef production. The beef is known for its excellent quality. The Cachena cow produces a little amount of milk that is of markedly good taste because of the wild herbs of the range, quasi perfumed. It is refined to the cheese named "Brandas da Cachena". The beef is a Portuguese Protected Designation of Origin named "Carne Cachena da Peneda". |
Appearance | They are light brown to yellow with dark brown nuances around the withers. The mucosas are not pigmented except the dark muzzle. The Cachena Cattle are one of the smallest cattle breeds of the world: The height must be equal or less than 110 cm (both in cows and bulls, with the last ones, being normally taller). |
Horns | The wide and long horns are lyre-shaped. |
Cows Average Weight | 390 kg (860 lbs.) |
Bulls Average Weight | 550 kg (1213 lbs.) |
Other Considerations | There were only 100 Cachena Cattle exemplars. In Portugal a plan for maintenance of domesticated animals in danger of extinction was made. A Cachena Cattle herd book was founded 1990. |