The Sayaguesa cattle are an ancient, aurochs-like breed of cattle which are traditionally being used as working and draft animals.
It is also called Zamorana cattle and the breed is from Sayago in the province of Zamora in the Spanish autonomous community of Castile and León.
The Sayaguesa cattle are a very rare breed today and there are only a few animals left. And the breed is listed as endangered since 1997.
Their numbers are decreasing gradually, and there are many reasons for this. Mainly the farmers often do not use them any more or cross them with more productive breeds.
Because primitive breeds like this have a low economical rentability. This results a few aurochs-like phenotypes left. Read more info about this cattle breed below.
Sayaguesa Cattle Characteristics
The Sayaguesa cattle are long-legged large animals. Bulls and cows are vary in coloration. The bulls are usually black in color and often have a light eel stripe.
The cows are usually only slightly lighter than the bulls. There are some wild type colored brown cows left. Both bulls and cows have horns, and their horns are aurochs-like and swung forward (especially in bulls).
They have whitely colored mouth. But the Sayaguesa cattle do not have the short calf-like face of many domestic cattle breeds.
Average height of the Sayaguesa cattle at withers is around 1.45 m in cows and 1.65 m in bulls. The bulls on average weight between 1000 and 1100 kg. And average body weight of the cows vary from 650 to 700 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Sayaguesa cattle are traditionally being used as working and draft animals. But they are also good for meat.
Special Notes
Sayaguesa cattle are known to be very hardy and strong. They are robust and frugal and therefore needs no shelter or barn during the year. This cattle breed is used in certain nature conservation and rewilding projects, because of its resemblance to its wild ancestor.
Today the number of this ancient animals are very less and it is a rare breed of cattle. Review full breed profile of this breed in the following table.
| Breed Name | Sayaguesa |
| Other Name | Zamorana Cattle |
| Breed Purpose | Draft, working, meat |
| Special Notes | Hardy, strong, robust, frugal |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Bulls | Between 1000 and 1100 kg |
| Cows | Vary from 650-700 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Usually black and often have a light eel stripe |
| Horned | Yes |
| Milk Yield | Poor |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | Spain |
