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Breed: Normande:
- The Normande has its origin in cattle that the Vikings left
along the northern French coasts hundreds of years ago.
- In the mid-1800s, some Shorthorns and Jerseys were mixed into the breed.
- The present herdbook in France started in 1883.
- During World War II many farms and livestock were destroyed, including herds of Normande cattle.
- The Normande made a strong comeback. There are about 3 million Normande in France today.
- There are also large herds in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Madagascar, and Spain.
- The Normande is highly adaptable, cold tolerant, and hardy, doing well even in the Andes Mountains.
- Normande cows are known for having an even disposition, good milk yields, and good mothering
skills.
- The cows are about 4 1/2 feet high at the withers and weigh on average about 1,650 pounds.
- Bulls are about 5 feet high at the withers and weigh around 2,600 pounds.
- Normande cattle are typically tri-colored. They have a white background with brown spots and
yellow-brown spots.
- They also have spots around their eyes, giving them a masked look.
- The muzzle, ears, hoofs, and the skin under the spots are darker-colored.
- In addition, they have a dished face, a large chest, and a long frame.
Sources:
A Field Guide to Cows, by John Pukite, Falcon Press, Helena, Montana, 1996,
pp. 46-47.
OSU Breeds of Livestock
Normande Cattle page.
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