The Aubrac or Laguiole is a French breed of beef cattle. It originates on the Plateau de l'Aubrac in the Massif Central in central southern France, from which it also takes its name. It has a wheat-coloured coat and dark hooves, switch, muzzle and eyes.
Some limited cross-breeding took place in the twentieth century: with the Mézenc, now extinct, between 1935 and 1945; with the Maraîchine between 1945 and 1955; and with the Parthenaise between 1955 and 1975.[3]
The conservation status of the Aubrac is 'not at risk'.[1]: 143 In 2014 the population in France was reported at about 170000 head; for 2021 it was over 506000.[5] The cattle have been exported to a number of countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas; substantial numbers are reported by Ireland and Lithuania.[6]
Characteristics
The Aubrac is robust, frugal, fertile and long-lived, and is well adapted to the mountain environment of the Massif Central.[3] It is reported to be resistant to trypanosomiasis, the "sleeping-sickness" transmitted by tsetse flies.[5]
It has a uniformly wheaten coat, ranging from a pale greyish white to a light brown tinged with orange-yellow.[4]: 114 The skin, hooves, muzzle, tongue, switch and natural openings are all black; there is a pale ring round the muzzle.[4]: 114 [3] Bulls may carry darker markings to the coat.[3] The horns are lyre-shaped and tipped with black. Bulls stand about 140 cm at the withers and weigh some 900–1300 kg; cows stand some 125–130 cm and weigh about 600–800 kg.[4]: 114 [3][5]
Use
The Aubrac was formerly reared as a draught and dairy animal, but is now raised principally for beef. Under certain conditions this can be marketed as Fin Gras du Mézenc.[7] Bullocks weigh about 310 kg when weaned.[3]
Some of the cows are of dairy type, and are milked; they will only give milk if their calf is with them.[4]: 114 Some of the milk is used in the production of Laguiole cheese; it is hoped that this proportion may reach 10%.[8]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aubrac cattle.
^ abcBreed data sheet: Aubrac / France (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2024.
^Transboundary breed: Aubrac. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2024.
^L'AOP Fin Gras du Mézenc (in French). Chaudeyrolles: Association Fin Gras. Archived 2 October 2023.
These are the cattle breeds considered in France to be wholly or partly of French origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively French.
