Abondance cattle
French dairy breed from Haute-Savoie, used for AOC cheeses.
The Abondance is a French breed of dairy cattle originating in the high valleys of Haute-Savoie. It takes its name from the commune and valley of Abondance and the former canton of Canton d'Abondance in that region. The breed is well adapted to rough grazing on mountain terrain and is the fourth-most numerous French dairy breed, with most of its milk used for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses such as Abondance and Reblochon.
Quick Facts
- Country
- France
- Distribution
- Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne
- Coat
- red with white head, belly, lower legs and tail switch; red patch round the eyedad
- Horn
- light, black-tipped
- Subspecies
- taurus
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The coat is a rich mahogany red, with white head, belly, lower legs and tail switch; there are patches of red round the eyes.
- Horns are present in both sexes; they are light, black-tipped and set on high.
- The milk is also used for Indication Géographique Protégée cheeses such as Émmental de Savoie and Tomme de Savoie.
History
The Abondance breed of dairy cattle was originally called the Chablaisienne, named after the Chablais province in the Duchy of Savoy, which is now part of France. Around the 1890s, a herd-book was established and the breed was renamed Abondance. Today, it ranks as the fourth most common dairy breed in France, with most animals found in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. In 2021, the population included about 260 bulls and many breeding cows spread across numerous herds, and by 2024 its conservation status was considered not at risk. While some Abondance cattle have been sent to Africa, Asia, Canada, and South Africa, as of 2024 no other country reported any to DAD-IS.
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