German Red Cattle

Red cattle/Angler cattle have probably been around in Germany for over 5000 years. They were first mentioned in writing in Angeln (Schleswig-Holstein) around 1600. Systematic breeding work has been taking place since 1830 and from 1879 there was a central herd register in Süderbrarup. Even then there was a central commission that approved all bulls of the breed. Since 1906 all herd book animals have also been subject to milk production testing.

As a dairy cattle breed with a high protein percentage, the German Red Cattle / Angler is now in competition with the Holsteins in particular. In order to maintain competitiveness and a high level of genetic diversity in the population, foreign genes from the red breeds from Scandinavia (Viking Red) are also being introduced into the Angler Red Cattle cow.

The current breeding goal of the German Red Cattle is to produce 9,500 kg of milk with 4.5% fat and 3.8% protein. The adult cows should reach a sacrum height of around 145 cm and a live weight of 650 kg.

The breed is characterized by:

• economic ratio of total feed expenditure to milk yield
• high protein levels
• excellent foundations and hooves
• adaptability
• easy calving and low calf losses
• good udder health – low cell counts

The young cattle grow quickly, mature early and calve easily at the age of 24 months. Young bulls have good growth rates and reach a live weight of 400 kg at twelve months. The animals are also ideal for producing pink veal (carcass weight 145 kg). The performance of the red cattle is characterized by high nutritional content in all breeding areas.

Similar performance improvements have been achieved in other red cattle breeding areas. In Germany, around 15,000 red cattle cows are subject to milk production testing, of which 12,000 are registered in the herd book. The latter form the active breeding population, from which 100 bull mothers are selected each year for the breeding program based on performance, type, udder and feet and legs characteristics and, in addition to some excellent young cattle, are mated with the best sires to produce the next generation of bulls. Due to their enormous performance capacity, German Red Cattle have long been used to improve the local red cattle populations in the following countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, Denmark and Australia. Recently, German Red Cattle have also been exported to Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Holland, Italy, Canada, Chile, Spain, New Zealand and the USA.

Through their membership in the European Red Dairy Breed Association (ERDB) and the Red Cattle Breeders in Germany maintain close international cooperation. They are also members of the worldwide association of breeders of red breeds (International Red Dairy Breeds Federation IRDBF). This provides many opportunities for exchanging experiences and, moreover, for the worldwide exchange of the best genetics. This ensures that the Red Cattle breed will remain competitive with other important cattle breeds in the future.



Article: C.-P. Tordsen