The Blaarkop cattle are a dairy cattle breed from Netherlands which are raised mainly for milk production. Main breeding area of the breed is Groningen province of Netherlands.
The breed is also known by some other names such as Groninger Blaarkop or Gronings Blaarkop (Dutch), Groninger (German), Groningue (French), Roodblaar, Roodwitkop, Zwartblaar and Zwartwitkop.
The Blaarkop cattle are an old breed which has been mentioned as early as the 14th century. There ancestry may be traced to the Middle Ages.
There are also Blaarkoppen in the Utrecht and Leiden regions from the 19th century. Read more information about the breed below.
Blaarkop Cattle Characteristics
Blaarkop cattle are medium sized animals typically with black color with a white head and belly. Although about 5 percent of the total population are red in color rather than black.
The breed is sturdily built with matching muscles, a horned head and have very strong legs. There are black ring (blister) around their eyes, and the tail has a white tip. Both bulls and cows usually have small horns.
Average body height of the Blaarkop cows vary from 135 to 140 cm, and about 145 to 150 cm for the bulls.
The mature bulls on average weight around 800 kg. And average live body weight of the mature cows is around 600 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
Blaarkop cattle are a breed of dairy cattle. They are raised primarily for milk production.
Special Notes
The Blaarkop cattle are very good milk producers. The cows on average can produce about 6,000 kg of milk per lactation. Their milk is of very good quality containing about 4.35 percent of butterfat content and about 3.6 percent of protein.
Total milk yields of these animals have increased through modern selective breeding practices and crossbreeding with Holstein and Angeln cattle.
But their milk yield is still lower than those of other Dutch cattle breeds. However, review full breed profile of the Blaarkop cattle in the chart below.
| Breed Name | Blaarkop | |
| Other Name | The breed is also known by some other names such as Groninger Blaarkop or Gronings Blaarkop (Dutch), Groninger (German), Groningue (French), Roodblaar, Roodwitkop, Zwartblaar and Zwartwitkop | |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly milk | |
| Special Notes | Well adapted to native climates, very good for milk production | |
| Breed Size | Medium | |
| Bulls | Around 800 kg | |
| Cows | Around 600 kg | |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates | |
| Coat Color | Solid black or red | |
| Horned | Yes | |
| Milk Yield | Very good | |
| Rarity | Common | |
| Country/Place of Origin | Netherlands |
