On the Breeds of Cattle—Historic and Current Classifications

Abstract

Classification of cattle breeds contributes to our understanding of the history of cattle and is essential for an effective conservation of genetic diversity. Here we review the various classifications over the last two centuries and compare the most recent classifications with genetic data. The classifications devised during the 19th to the late 20th century were in line with the Linnaean taxonomy and emphasized cranial or horn morphology. Subsequent classifications were based on coat color, geographic origin or molecular markers. Several theories were developed that linked breed characteristics either to a supposed ancestral aurochs subspecies or to a presumed ethnic origin. Most of the older classifications have now been discarded, but have introduced several Latin terms that are still in use. The most consistent classification was proposed in 1995 by Felius and emphasizes the geographic origin of breeds. This is largely in agreement with the breed clusters indicated by a biochemical and molecular genetic analysis, which reflect either groups of breeds with a common geographic origin or single breeds that have expanded by export and/or crossbreeding. We propose that this information is also relevant for managing the genetic diversity of cattle.

On the History of Cattle Genetic Resources

“…All other breeds have an Y2 Y-chromosome with the exception of a few Spanish breeds. The molecular-genetic classification is largely in agreement with the integrated geographic-morphological classification [7,8]. The development of dairy cattle in northern (group 1) and central Europe (group 2) may have narrowed the diversity of the paternal lineages.…”

“…On the basis of a genetic survey of the present European and Turkish breeds analyzed with microsatellites and in agreement with SNP analysis [151], five major groups of breeds and several clusters of related breeds can be distinguished [8]: Cattle from the first group predominantly carry Y-chromosomes from the Y1 haplogroup. All other breeds have an Y2 Y-chromosome with the exception of a few Spanish breeds.…”

“…About 20 years later French Salers was crossed into the central Spanish Retinta and the South-Portuguese Alentejana. Upgrading was not extensive, however, so the Iberian breeds retained genetically their regional identity [8] with the exception of the Minhota, which became largely identical to the German Yellow (Figure 17c).…”

“…Previously, we have described the bovine breeds and their nomenclature, classification and relevance for conservation [7][8][9]. To contribute to a rational evaluation of conservation values of existing breeds and populations, we here consider the diversity of cattle in a historical context.…”

Milk: the new white gold? Milk production options for smallholder farmers in Southern Mali

“…Méré cattle is the non-stabilised, dominant cross-breed between Zébu Peulh (Fulani, Bos indicus), and Baoulé cattle (Bos taurus) (Felius, 1995;Yapi Gnaoré et al, 1996;Porter and Mason, 2002). Cattle are grazed by herdsmen on communal rangelands (year round) and on crop residues left in the fields after harvest (from November to June).…”