Charolais cattle

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The Oxford Companion to Irish History | 2007 | © The Oxford Companion to Irish History 2007, originally published by Oxford University Press 2007. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

cattle have been farmed in Ireland since the neolithic period. Archaeologists, using the evidence of bone remains, identify several distinct types of early cattle, some possibly produced by selective breeding. Larger types of cattle may have been introduced to Ireland by Vikings, Anglo‐Normans, and 17th‐century settlers, but it was not until the later 18th century that systematic attempts to create breeds with fixed characteristics became widespread. The Kerry was recognized as a distinctive type by this period, but it was during the late 19th century that its characteristics became standardized to produce a hardy ‘poor man's’ cow, kept for both milk and meat. An Irish type of longhorn was also identified, particularly in midland counties, and the English agricultural improver Robert Bakewell may have used some of these in developing his famous breed. Other types of cattle, such as the Dexter and Irish Moil, were ascribed ancient antecedents, but were not developed as pedigree breeds until the early 20th century.

By the early historic period, law tracts and literature clearly show the central importance of cattle in determining social status within Irish society. Large‐scale cattle farming is suggested by early medieval texts, and by the late 18th century herds of over 1,000 cattle were recorded in rich grazing lands in Cos. Tipperary and Limerick. These have remained major centres of production ever since. At the other end of the farming scale, the ownership of a cow was also crucial, providing both manure, essential for the successful cultivation of potatoes on marginal land, and milk, which along with potatoes could provide a healthy if monotonous diet. In these areas, the management of cattle often involved a system of transhumance, known as booleying, when animals were moved to common hill grazing during summer.

Between 1850 and 1900 there was a 60 per cent increase in cattle numbers in Ireland, mostly of imported breeds such as Shorthorns, which by 1900 had become the most common cattle breed throughout northern Europe. The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland succeeded in establishing a national Dairy Shorthorn herd, and these remained dominant until the 1930s, although encouragement was also given for the purchase of other breeds, including Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, and Galloways. Friesian cattle became common in dairying districts during the 1950s, while in more recent decades breeds such as the Charolais and Polled Hereford have typified a movement towards greater diversity of breeds, mostly imported from mainland Europe.

Bibliography

Kelly, Fergus , Early Irish Law (1988)
Lucas, A. T. , Cattle in Ancient Ireland (1987)
Wallace, R. , Farm Livestock of Great Britain (1907)

Jonathan Bell

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"cattle." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. Oxford University Press. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Charolais cattle

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Charolais cattle , breed of beef animal with a rugged, muscular appearance and solid creamy to wheat-colored coat. Originated in France, it was first imported to the United States in 1936 by way of Mexico.

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cattle

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

cattle name for the ruminant mammals of the genus Bos, and particularly those of the domesticated species, Bos taurus and B. indica. The term oxen, broadly used, refers also to closely related animals, such as the buffalo and the bison . Narrowly used, ox refers to a mature castrated male used for draft purposes. In referring to domestic cattle a grown male is a bull, a grown female a cow, an infant a calf, and an animal between one and two years old a yearling. A female that has not given birth is a heifer; a castrated male is a steer.

Most cattle have unbranched horns consisting of a horny layer surrounding a bone extension of the skull; these horns, unlike those of deer, are not shed. Some cattle are naturally hornless. Western, or European, domestic cattle ( Bos taurus ) are thought to be descended mainly from the aurochs, a large European wild ox domesticated during the Stone Age, extinct since 1627. A smaller species, the Celtic shorthorn, was the most important domestic ox of the Stone Age and may also be involved in the ancestry of B. taurus. The zebu , or Indian ox, B. indica, is the humped domestic species of Asia and Africa. Several B. indica breeds have been developed in the United States into the Brahman breed. The yak , B. grunniens, and other cattle species, wild and domestic, exist in Asia. Domestic cattle were first brought to the Western Hemisphere by Columbus on his second voyage.

In various societies throughout history wealth has been measured in terms of cattle— cattle is related to capital and chattel, and pecuniary is derived from pecus [Lat.,=cattle]. Breeding for improvement of beef and dairy qualities, practiced by the Romans, was established on scientific principles in the middle of the 18th cent. by English livestock breeder Robert Bakewell (see animal husbandry ; breeding ). Important beef breeds include Angus , Hereford , Simmental, Charolais, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Brahman, and Shorthorn . Important crossbreeds include Brangus (Brahman x Angus) and Santa Gertrudis (Shorthorn x Brahman). Major dairy breeds include Holstein-Friesian , Jersey , Guernsey , Brown Swiss , Ayrshire , and Milking Shorthorn . The importance of dual-purpose breeds has declined.

Cattle are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. See also beef ; dairying .

Bibliography: See publications of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; A. L. Neumann and K. S. Lusby, Beef Cattle (8th ed. 1986); V. Porter, Cattle (1992).

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Genetic effects on coat colour in cattle: dilution of eumelanin and phaeomelanin pigments in an F2-Backcross Charolais x Holstein population.(Research article)
Magazine article from: BMC Genetics; 8/16/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...colour dilution in Highland cattle [16]. The Charolais breed exhibits the most extreme...Extension genotype of most Charolais cattle. Therefore, the characteristic...dilution over the entire body. Charolais cattle are thought to be homozygous...
Charolais cattle drive on agenda at Scottish conference
Newspaper article from: The Scotsman; 6/5/2007; ; 495 words ; Charolais cattle were first imported into the UK from France in the mid-1960s THE British Charolais Cattle Society is set to host upwards of...long event will focus on promoting Charolais cattle, which were first imported into the...
Canada Press: Russia Buys Canadian Charolais Cattle.
News Wire article from: Resource News International; 10/29/2009; 700+ words ; ...Resource News International via COMTEX) -- Saskatchewan Charolais cattle will soon be bound for Russia as a local cattle producer...Saskatchewan to ship up to 10,000 head of purebred Charolais breeding stock for the development of the SEVAGRO Beef...
Meet the auctioneer and Charolais breeder who comments at the cattle rings of the Royal Welsh.(News)
Newspaper article from: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales); 3/15/2005; 700+ words ; ...chartered surveyor, auctioneer and Charolais cattle breeder from Llandysul, has been...Dai's excursion into pedigree cattle proved successful and he represented...on the Council of the British Charolais Cattle Society for six years, including...
Chance to secure high genetic value Charolais cattle.(Business)
Newspaper article from: The Journal (Newcastle, England); 8/5/2003; 502 words ; ...farmers the chance to secure some of the Charolais breed's highest genetic merit cattle. A major portion of JSR Farms' Givendale...breeding programme has focused on selecting Charolais cattle with high Estimated Breeding Values for growth...
Opportunity to secure high genetic merit Charolais cattle.(Business)
Newspaper article from: The Journal (Newcastle, England); 8/20/2003; 395 words ; ...have the opportunity to secure some of the Charolais breed's highest genetic merit cattle when a major portion of JSR Farms' Givendale...breeding programme has focused on selecting Charolais cattle with high Estimated Breeding Values for growth...
Charolais cattle sale hits peak of 10,000gns.(Business)
Newspaper article from: The Journal (Newcastle, England); 5/15/2008; 700+ words ; Byline: Sam Wood CHAROLAIS cattle met a flying trade in Carlisle last Saturday at the breed...bull, a trend that reflected the high current demand for Charolais sired store cattle, said BCCS chairman, Steven Nesbitt. Sale leader at 10...
Production sale of top beef herd ; Little Bovey, one of the Westcountry's leading Charolais herds owned by Henry and Emma Vooght, is staging a production sale under the British Charolais Cattle Society's auspices tomorrow.
Newspaper article from: Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK); 6/23/2008; 419 words ; ...of the Westcountry's leading Charolais herds owned by Henry and Emma Vooght...production sale under the British Charolais Cattle Society's auspices tomorrow...protection zone will have their cattle retained on farm and vaccinated...
Charolais Cattle Society's.(Features)
Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 4/27/2006; 360 words ; ...Centre Right: The reserve champion, Trefaldwyn Voltaire, from Arwel Owen, Foel, made 2,800gns at the British Charolais Cattle Society's official spring show and sale at Welshpool
Remarks British Charolais Cattle Society's late spring show.(News)
Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 5/19/2005; 418 words ; ...Trefaldwyn Valiant was awarded supreme championship and sold for 8,000gns Carlisle, Sat, May 14 Remarks British Charolais Cattle Society's late spring show and sale attracted 119 entries. Report Bidding peaked at 18,000gn to set a centre...
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Charolais cattle. (Image by Robert Scarth, CC)

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