Kalmyk cattle (Russian: Калмыцкая, Kalmytskaya) is a breed of beef cattle of the former Soviet Union, now found in the Russian Federation, in Kazakhstan and in Tajikistan.[4][3] It is believed to have originated in Dzungaria, and to have been brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.
 Bull at the Moscow breeding cattle exhibition, 1896 | |
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| Country of origin | western Mongolia, southern Altai |
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| Use | Livestock |
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| Coat | red of various shades; white markings on head, belly and legs; pale muzzle |
| Horn status | horned; short, upward pointing |
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History
editIt is believed that the Kalmyk originated in Dzungaria, and was brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.[5]: 214
In 1980 the total population of the breed in the Soviet Union was estimated at 381000, of which 217000 were purebred.[6]: 3 In 2023 the Kalmyk was reported to DAD-IS by the Russian Federation, and by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; no population data was reported, and the conservation status of the breed in those countries was 'unknown'.[3]
Characteristics
editThe Kalmyk is compact and of medium size: the average bodyweight for cows is 430 kg, for bulls 720 kg; average heights are 126 cm and 135 cm respectively.[4] The coat is red, in varying shades, with white markings to the head, belly, and legs. The head is small, with a long face and short horns.[6]: 83
References
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- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ Breed data sheet: Kalmytskaya / Russian Federation (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2023.
- ^ a b c Transboundary breed: Kalmyk. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2023.
- ^ a b Breed description: Kalmyk. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 15 October 2007.
- ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b N.G. Dmitriev, L.K. Ernst (1989). Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO animal production and health paper 65. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251025827. Archived 13 November 2009. Also available here, archived 29 September 2017.