Auerrind project

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A young Sayaguesa bull and a Watussi bull from the Auerrind project in the summer of 2017 on a meadow between Lorsch Monastery and the Lauresham open-air laboratory
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The Auerrind project of the open-air laboratory Lauresham is a project to breed an aurochs-like breed of cattle called 'Auerrind'; it is the youngest of several such image breeds . In the short to medium term, the Auerrind should come as close as possible in appearance , behavior and genetics to the extinct wild form of the Eurasian aurochs . In the medium to long term, the Auer beef intended by reintroduction , Entdomestizierung and natural selection , the ecological taking part of the original aurochs in European nature. The Auerrind project originated in 2013 at the Lauresham open-air laboratory at Lorsch Abbey in Hesse. It developed from a previous project and has been independent since 2015. The first crossbred calves of the F1 generation were born in 2016 .

Background and goals of the Lauresham Auerrind project

background

The European landscape has always been shaped by the influence of large herbivores. Originally these were wild animals such as bison , wild horses , aurochs , elk , red deer and others. In the course of the colonization of Europe by humans, this role was taken over by domesticated animals such as domestic cattle , domestic sheep and house horses , which grazed not only meadows but also all other natural sites such as forests, moors, heaths, etc. Since the beginning of industrialization, this influence of grazing animals on the entire nature has been disappearing and today it has practically come to a standstill outside of agricultural pastures. The remaining wild animals such as red deer and roe deer cannot fulfill this task because they are not only much smaller, but also have completely different feeding behavior than cattle and horses.

In nature conservation, therefore, natural year-round grazing with wild animals and domestic animals has been used as a means of design and maintenance for several decades . As a substitute for the extinct wild forms of horses and aurochs, robust, original breeds of domestic horses and domestic cattle are used. Efforts have been made since around 2010 to return domestic horses and domestic cattle to their original wild state. Organizations such as Rewilding Europe and the Tauros Program are leading the way .

In the “biological sense, domestic cattle are also aurochs.” In theory, any domesticated cattle breeds could simply be released as a substitute for the wild aurochs. For practical and ethical reasons, however, forms of domestic cattle are to be preferred for reintroduction projects, which in all their characteristics are as similar as possible to the extinct wild form of the aurochs. The characteristics of the aurochs developed over hundreds of thousands of years of adaptation to life in the wild. It can therefore be assumed that these characteristics are far better suited for a life and survival in a semi-wild or completely wild state than the respective modified characteristics of domestic cattle.

Project goals

According to project manager Klaus Kropp, the overarching main objective of the Auerrind project is "the return of a European key species to our ecosystem ."

Three interrelated goals are described: the promotion of landscape management and nature conservation with the help of large herbivores , the breeding of a suitable cattle modeled on the original, wild form of the aurochs, the acquisition and deepening of knowledge about methods and ecological effects of natural Grazing , as well as the appearance , behavior and genetics of the aurochs.

Landscape maintenance and nature protection

The landscape in the Hessian district of Bergstrasse , the seat of the Lauresham open-air laboratory, is to be made a bit more original by means of nature development and renaturation projects. Central to this is the use of large herbivores, among which the cattle plays a key ecological role . The dung is the basic food for numerous insect species, which in turn serve as food for birds and bats. The cattle's wallowing and scratching areas loosen the soil and vegetation and can be used as a spawning area by amphibians after rainfall . The feeding behavior creates a semi-open, structured landscape with a species-rich flora and fauna. The renewable, soft parts of the plant are the food source for other herbivores such as hares, geese, deer and horses, which, unlike cattle, are less able to process coarse and hard plant material.

Breeding of Auerrind

In order to obtain a breed of cattle that is best adapted to these tasks and to a year-round unsupervised life in the great outdoors, the Auerrind should be created. Through targeted breeding, it should come as close as possible to the extinct wild form of the Eurasian aurochs in appearance, behavior and genetics and be particularly robust. While it is only used in grazing projects under human supervision in the short and medium term (not only in the Bergstrasse district, but also across Germany in cooperation with local partners), in the long term it should also be completely released into suitable areas .

research

In support of these two goals, an accompanying scientific research is planned, which provides both basic knowledge for the implementation of the project goals, as well as, through evaluation of the project itself , creates experimental archaeological knowledge about the ecological role of the aurochs and the ecological effects of grazing in the Middle Ages. According to Claus Kropp, the research should be carried out partly independently and partly in cooperation with scientific research institutions.

Cooperation with other projects

While there are two older, similar and ecologically motivated projects for breeding images of the aurochs, the Taurus project (since 1996) and the Tauros program (since 2008), the Auerrind project decided on an independent way to determine the breeding strategy and the original breeds used to be able to. However, there is a lively professional exchange with these two projects.

Breeding plan

According to project manager Kropp, the basic goal is to achieve a high degree of homogeneity in the crossbred animals over a period of 10-20 years, which is why the number of founder breeds is kept as low as possible.

Cattle breeds used

According to Kropp, the Auerrind project has selected five robust and original land races for its breeding, which are usually kept year-round pasture in natural herds in their areas of origin and are considered to be sociable. According to Kropp, these are still relatively close to the aurochs in terms of genetic and phenotypic features and behavior. The five breeds together combine essential external auroch characteristics.

The selected breeds:

  • The Chianina cattle come from central Italy . They are long-legged and large-framed and are considered to be one of the largest cattle breeds in the world. Their horns are small, but directed forward like aurochs.
  • To Podolian cattle group includes the Italian Maremmanarinder and the Hungarian Gray Cattle . Outwardly, the two breeds are similar and are used interchangeably in the project. Their horns are directed upwards, but they are big like an aurochs. Unlike most Hungarian steppe cattle, the Maremma cattle have pronounced auroch-like withers with long spinous processes .
  • The Spanish Sayaguesa cattle are aurochs-like, tall and long-legged, although not as tall as the Chianina cattle. Their medium-sized horns point forward. Their skulls are quite long; unlike the pedomorphically shortened skulls of many other cattle breeds.
  • The African Watussi cattle are characterized by particularly large and thick horns. These are needed to compensate for the influence of the medium-sized Sayaguesa horns and that of the small Chianina horns in the racial mix. Since they are not closely related to the European races as an African cattle breed, they increase the genetic variability of the breed mix, an important fact for adaptation to new or changing environmental conditions.

Breeding steps

According to Claus Kropp, the plan is to create two separate breeding lines for the first two generations of crosses, which will then be combined in the third generation of crosses:

  1. Creation of two breeding lines
    • One breeding line is created by crossing Chianina and Watussi.
    • The second breeding line is created by crossing Podolian cattle (Maremmana or Hungarian steppe cattle) and Sayaguesa.
  2. Further breeding within the respective breeding lines
    • The crossbreds of the first crossbred generation (F1) of the Chianina × Watussi breeding line are paired with each other (F1 × F1) to create the crossbred of the second crossbred generation (F2).
    • The same applies to the Podolian cattle × Sayaguesa breeding line.
  3. Connection of the two breeding lines
    • The best animals are selected from the F2 of the two breeding lines and crossed with one another in order to create the crossbred animals of the third cross-breeding generation (F3), which are now descended from all four original breeds.
  4. Continued selective breeding with the now unified, single breeding line
    • The best animals are selected from the crossbred animals of the third crossbred generation (F3) and mated with one another, possibly also with particularly suitable F2 individuals.

In addition to this main breeding plan, according to the project manager Kropp, other cross-breeding variants can also be made between the original breeds in order to get a more precise understanding of the inheritance paths of individual traits.

Breeding history

Breeding animals of the original breeds

Kreuzungskuhkalb Ambra of F1Generation (Watusi × Maremmana), December 2017

The Auerrind project currently has 18 animals of the original breeds. There are four Chianina cows , three Sayaguesa heifers , three Hungarian steppe cattle heifers , two Maremmana heifers and one Watusi heifer on the females. The male races consist of two young Sayaguesa bulls, a Watussi young bull , a Chianinastier and a Hungarian steppe young bull.

Crossbreed animals

According to the project manager Kropp, eight crossbred animals of the F1 generation have been born so far :

  • 2016 a Sayaguesa × Hungarian steppe cow calf,
  • 2017 two Watussi × Maremmana calves (a cow and a bull calf) and a Watussi × Sayaguesa bull calf,
  • In 2018 two Sayaguesa × steppe cattle calves and two Sayaguesa × Chianina calves (one cow and one bull calf), up to seven more crossbred calves are expected.
Breeding area Lorsch: grazing project Wattenheimer bridge at the Weschnitz at Lorsch Chianinakühen and Watussistier, August 2014

Breeding areas

The focus of the breeding is in the Hessian district of Bergstrasse . Breeding sites are here near Lorsch and Einhausen . The opening of breeding sites near Bensheim and Groß-Rohrheim is planned for 2018 , where the animals will live together with water buffalo on pastures .

Outside Hesse there are currently two breeding sites, the Hohmeyer landscape maintenance company near Bielefeld in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Schwarzach wildlife park in Unterschwarzach in the Neckar-Odenwald district in Baden-Württemberg.

science and education

Kropp's project goal is to deepen the knowledge about the aurochs in addition to the breeding of the aurochs.

Knowledge acquisition

A comprehensive research project has been running since 2017 as part of the Auerrind project in which all auroch skulls found in the Upper Rhine area are recorded, dated and measured. In addition to findings on general morphology, according to Kropp, the data should also provide findings on morphological changes in the aurochs over the millennia in a clearly defined small region.

Furthermore, according to the project manager, a DNA sample was taken from an aurochs skull from Bensheim in cooperation with the University of Kiel . This is currently being sequenced and then evaluated .

Knowledge transfer

Together with the UNESCO Geopark Bergstrasse Odenwald, the museum exhibition "The Aurochs - A Search for Traces" was created, which describes the history of the aurochs, its ecological role, its importance for humans, the current state of research, especially in molecular genetics, as well as the current breeding of images and their significance illuminated for nature conservation. This exhibition ran from January 28 to May 6, 2018 in the Lorsch Museum Center .

Also in 2018, an international specialist conference, "The Aurochs - breeding back and natural grazing for a wilder future?", Was developed and held in Lorsch, next to the Auerrind project ("The aurochs - back-breeding and natural grazing for a wilder future?") The North Rhine-Westphalian Taurus Project and the Dutch Tauros Program as well as scientists and nature conservation managers from both countries also took part.

Project partner

The project is run jointly by

The Geo-Naturpark Bergstrasse-Odenwald acts as a funding partner.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Auerrindprojekt  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Margret Bunzel-Drüke, C. Boehm, P. Finck, G. Kämmer, R. Luick, E. Reisinger, U. Riecken, J. Riedl, M. Scharf, O. Zimball: “Wilde Weiden. Practical guide for year-round grazing in nature conservation and landscape development. " Bad Sassendorf-Lohne: Working Group on Biological Environmental Protection in the Soest District, 2008. ( pdf, 300 MB .) Accessed on February 3, 2018.
  2. ^ A b Joep WG van de Vlasakker: Evaluation of Natural Grazing in the Nature Park 'Pape'. Suggestions for Future Meadow Management. FNC report 2006.002. Flaxfield Nature Consultancy, the Netherlands, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. ↑ a b Rita Merete Buttenschøn: Anbefalinger vedrørende naturpleje af Mellemområdet, Lille Vildmose. Report udarbejdet for Aalborg Kommune and Aage V. Jensen Naturfond. Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, Københavns Universitet, May 2013. Accessed February 19, 2018 (Danish).
  4. ↑ Roeland Vermeulen: Natural Grazing. Practices in the rewilding of cattle and horses. Nijmegen: Rewilding Europe, 2015. ISBN 978-90-822514-2-5 (English). Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  5. ^ Rewilding Europe: "Rewilding horses in Europe" and "Tauros Program." Subpages of the Rewilding Europe website, undated (English). Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. ^ The Tauros Programs. Official website of the Tauros program . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. ^ A b Margret Bunzel-Drüke: "Ecological substitutes for Wild Horse ( Equus ferus Boddaert, 1785 = E. przewalslii Poljakov, 1881) and Aurochs ( Bos primigenius Bojanus, 1827)." ( Memento of the original from March 3, 2016 on the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Natural and cultural landscape , Volume 4, Höxter / Jena 2001. Accessed on February 3, 2018. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.koelner-zoo.de
  8. ↑ Claus Kropp: "About the project." Subpage of the Auerrind project website, undated. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  9. ↑ Claus Kropp, head of the Auerrind project, quoted in Manfred Ofer, “Approaching a Myth,” Bürstädter Zeitung , February 13, 2018. Accessed February 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ a b Hans-Jürgen Brunnengräber: “The skepticism has flown.” Lampertheimer Zeitung , January 24, 2018. Accessed on February 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ a b c d e Sabine Hebbelmann: "Lorsch: The aurochs should soon be reborn as" Auerrind "." Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung , February 9, 2016. Retrieved on February 3, 2018.
  12. ↑ a b c d e Prisca Jourdan: “Auerrindprojekt Lorsch tries to back-breed the Ursus.” Bürstädter Zeitung , April 8, 2017. Accessed on February 19, 2018.
  13. ↑ Lorsch Monastery: “Auerrindprojekt. “Subpage of the Lorsch Monastery website, undated. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  14. ↑ a b c d Ira Schaible: "Aurochs should graze again in Hesse." Frankfurter Rundschau , January 24, 2018. (English version: "Scientists work to bring back the aurochs - or something close to it." Gulf Times , 6. February 2018.) Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ Manfred Ofer: "Fassen Wildrinder Fuß?" Darmstädter Echo , June 30, 2016. Accessed on February 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ a b GEJ: "The Auerrinder are there!" ( Memento of the original from February 18, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Wildpark Schwarzach website, Wildpark-News, February 16, 2018. Accessed February 19, 2018. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wildpark-schwarzach.de
  17. ^ A b c Claus Kropp: "Research." Subpage of the Auerrind project website, undated. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  18. ↑ a b c Hans-Jürgen Brunnengräber: “Aurochs exhibition in Lorsch.” Lampertheimer Zeitung , January 26, 2018. Accessed on February 3, 2018.
  19. ↑ a b c d e f Claus Kropp: “Report Auerrindprojekt 1/2018.” Website of the Auerrindprojekt, blog post, February 3, 2018. Accessed February 7, 2018.
  20. ↑ a b c d e Claus Kropp: “Zuchtplan.” Subpage of the Auerrind project website, undated. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  21. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: "Chianina." Subpage of the website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, undated . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  22. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: "Maremmana." Subpage of the website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, undated . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  23. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: "Portrait of the association's Hungarian steppe cattle." Website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, press news, October 2, 2016. Retrieved on February 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: "Sayaguesa." Subpage of the website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, undated . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  25. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: "Watussi." Subpage of the website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, undated . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ Florian Karlein: “Ubutaha's successor is called Thando.” Bergsträßer Anzeiger , January 5, 2016. ( archive version ). Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  27. Jump up ↑ Melanie Prunzel: “Still a bit lanky and without a name.” Darmstädter Echo , December 27, 2016. Retrieved on February 3, 2018.
  28. ↑ Claus Kropp: “Youngsters in the Auerrind project.” Auerrind project website, blog post, May 31, 2017. Accessed February 21, 2018.
  29. ↑ Claus Kropp: "Status report Zuchtgruppe Bielefeld." Website of the Auerrindprojekt, blog post, September 3, 2017. Accessed on February 21, 2018.
  30. ↑ Claus Kropp: “ Youngsters at the Wattenheimer Brücke in Lorsch.” Website of the Auerrind project, blog post, March 21, 2018. Accessed March 22, 2018.
  31. ↑ a b c Claus Kropp: “Start of a promising grazing season.” Website of the Auerrind project, blog post, April 2, 2017. Accessed February 3, 2018.
  32. ↑ Claus Kropp: "Water buffalo on the Erlache." Website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, press news, October 21, 2017. Accessed February 7, 2018.
  33. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: “Rinder fürs Ried.” Darmstädter Echo , January 13, 2016. Accessed February 3, 2018.
  34. ↑ Auer cattle project: "The breeding herd arrived in Schwarzach safe and sound." Twitter / Instagram message of Auer cattle project of 13 February 2018. Retrieved on 14 February 2018.
  35. ↑ Claus Kropp: "New partner for the Auerrindprojekt." Website of the Auerrindprojekt, blog post, August 1st, 2017. Accessed on February 3rd, 2018.
  36. ↑ a b Lorsch Monastery: “PM The Aurochs: Myth and 'Return' of a Key Species (special exhibition from January 28 to May 6, 2018). Press release, January 25, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2018.
  37. ^ Lhe: "Exhibition on extinct aurochs begins." Süddeutsche Zeitung , January 25, 2018, accessed on August 10, 2020 . .
  38. ↑ Melanie Prunzel: “International conference 'The Aurochs - breeding back and natural grazing for a wilder future?' " (Including conference program .) Website of the support group for large herbivores in the Bergstrasse district, press news, December 20, 2017. Accessed on February 3, 2018.
  39. ↑ Claus Kropp: "Partner." Subpage of the Auerrind project website, undated. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Aurochs: Geopark promotes breeding." Bergsträßer Anzeiger , January 11, 2017. ( archive version ). Retrieved February 11, 2018.