Arouquesa
Arouquesa is a breed of cattle from Portugal .
description
The height at the withers of the cows is approx. 123 cm, that of the bulls approx. 134 cm, making the Arouquesa cattle small animals. The cows reach a weight of 360 to 430 kg, the bulls are significantly heavier with 700–900 kg. The coat color is light brown, whereby the male animals can become darker. Mucous membranes and claws are dark in color. The protruding horns should point forward, first pointing down, then pointing up.
properties
Due to their muscular hindquarters, Arouquesas are very suitable for the mountains and are used for example. Some of them are still used today as draft animals. In the last century, oxen were often exported to England for meat. In 1902, Arouquesa meat won the highest award in Paris. The finely marbled meat is valued mainly in Portugal today. There the animals are considered to be one of the best indigenous breeds for meat production. They are very long-lived, 16–18 calves are not uncommon. Occasionally the cows are milked, but suckler cow husbandry is mostly practiced. The animals are very sociable, but still lively.
distribution
The breeding area is almost exclusively limited to the northern Portuguese districts of Viseu , Aveiro , Porto and Braga .
