RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
powered by TidyHQCattle: Tarentaise
Cattle: Tarentaise
Country of origin
France. Tarentaise Valley, in the rugged French Alps - the Massif Central.
Australian Status
International status
Number about 13, 000 in France. Found in other countries including Italy, Canada, Albania, USA, Egypt, the Maghreb (north west African countries), parts of South America, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, India, the Himalayas, Australia.
Uses
Milk, Meat
Breed traits
Primarily a milk breed although dual purpose. The milk makes tremendous and famous cheeses - four are Protected Designation of Origin, being Beaufort, Tome des Bauges, Rebochon and Abondance. Two other famous IPA cheeses made from their milk are Tomme and Emmental de Savoi. Their beef is also highly praised.
Hardy cattle that thrive at high altitude, and on basic rough forage. Able to easily negotiate steep and difficult terrain. The average production is 5,500 kilos (12,199 lbs) of milk in a 305 day lactation with no feed concentrates in the summer.
Well muscled in the hindquarters and stand over a lot of ground. Due to being developed in the mountains they're a strong muscular breed with good strong legs and feet and a robust cardiovascular system. They've crossed to both dairy and beef breeds with great success.
Early maturing. Great mothers. Unassisted births. Known for excellent udder and teat conformation.
Red brown colour with some deeper shading on the bulls.
History
The breed was officially named in 1859. The Tarentaise Valley is a valley of the Isere River, in the heart of the French Alps in the Savoy region. The area was isolated from other cattle for thousands of years so the cattle had little or no outside influence.
This breed has been introduced to other countries in relatively recent times, much sought after for crossing, for hybrid vigour and it's many fine qualities such as great feet, easy calving. fertility and wonderful milk for cheesemaking.
History in Australia
Tarentaise arrived in Australia in the late 1980's with two heifers and a red full blood and a black “purebred” poll arriving from Canada. They went to Victoria. Since then, several have been bred from them. 1993 at Melbourne Royal, was the first showing of Tarentaise cattle at that show, probably in Australia.
Source - Speed The Plough Vol 2, RASV.
Breed Association
Australian Tarentaise Association, contacts available in Facebook on the page Tarentaise Australia - active and helpful.
Australian Population
2022 - 21 cows, 3 bulls genetics in storage
Thank you to the Australian Tarentaise Association for help with the census.
Page by Janet Lane.
Updated 1st August 2022.
