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Tudanca cattle
| Place of Origin | Spain |
| Origin | Tudanca is a primitive breed of cattle from Cantabria, Spain, which resembles the wild ancestor of cattle, the extinct aurochs in several respects. The cow takes its name from the village of Tudanca in the Cantabrian Nansa valley. |
| Purpose | Tudancas were formerly used in inner Cantabria as work animals in the field, but after the mechanization of agriculture, the breed was listed as protected domestic animal, since it is, like other primitive cattle breeds, facing extinction because its low economical production rate. |
| Appearance | Tudanca is a middle-sized cattle breed, with cows reaching 135 cm shoulder height, bulls reaching 150 cm. The colour of Tudanca goes from greyish to black, cows are lighter than bulls on average. Like the aurochs, Tudanca bulls have a light eel stripe on their back. Additionally, they often have a light saddle. Typically for Tudanca is the swung back line, which is strongly pronounced in bulls. The cows are smaller and more gracile than the bulls. Tudanca bulls often carry long curly hair on their front head, which is a feature also described for the aurochs. |
| Horns | The long horns of Tudanca are variable, they can be either aurochs-like or swung outwards. |
| Cows Average Weight | 310 kg (683 lbs.) |
| Bulls Average Weight | 430 kg (948 lbs.) |
| Other Considerations | José María de Cossío describes the breed as "agile, strong, frugal and hardy". Tudancas are adapted to the mountainous orography and climate of the Cantabrian upland. Indeed, herds are moved up to the high pastures to graze on June where they are left until October. |
