Arouquesa Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Arouquesa is a small cattle breed that comes from and is mainly found in Portugal these days. They are extremely well adapted to the mountainous terrain from which they come and tend to have a long life in which they cow produce off-spring nearly up to their last years. They are deemed as the “best native breed for beef” in Portugal. They are also extremely strong for their size and were historically used for the pulling of carts, wagons, and plows.

AROUQUESA BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Arouquesa cattle have a beautiful light golden brown fleece and can live to between 16 to 18 years old.
Country of Origin:	Portugal
Other Names:	None
Main Purpose:	Milk and meat
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Can be used for	Breed, Meat, Milk, Skin, Draft
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Protect geographical status by the DOC or Denominao de Origen Controlada from the European Commission.
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Cattle Clubs:	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Where to buy them?	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	Arouquesa oxen were exported to Great Britain in the 1800s mainly for their excellent meat quality and strength as a draft animal. In 1902 Arouquesa beef won the “Award for the Best Beef” in Britain. But sadly, they were replaced by more commercial and consumer demand for beef cattle. Now their meat and milk are only enjoyed in Portugal.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Arouquesa cattle have a long stocky body that is well muscled. Their legs are not too long and tend to be very powerful. They have a small, short face with dark circles around their eyes with a lighter color snout and a tight dewlap. Some have a small hump on the back of their necks – this is more prominent in the males.

Size:

Small

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	Light brown	They too are a light brown but a bit darker than the cow
Breed Weight:	350 to 400 kgs	360 to 430 kgs
Breed Height:	1.23m	1.36m
Horns:	They are horned. Their horns grow out from the sides of their forehead and then point forward	They are horned. Their horns grow out from the sides of their forehead and then point forward
Temperament:	They are active cows but docile	They are active bulls but are docile. But they are still bulls, and as such should be watched as they can get aggressive at times.
Matures at age:	6 to 8 months or 9 + months	6 to 8 months or 9 + months
Puberty Age:	6 to 15 months	9 to 1o months
Breeding Age:	13 to 15 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Cow breeding & Milking Info	Cover 25 to 30 Cows in 1 season

COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. The Arouquesa produce a fine quality of milk and as the calve are not too big at birth tend to have easy birthing with very few problems. They are very good mothers and will protect their young with vigor.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 6 to 24 hours Most ave. 12 to 16 hours Cows usually come on heat every 21 days.
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days to 24 days Heifer – usually ave. 20 days Cows – usually ave. 21 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 272 to 289 days but most gestation is 279 days. Cows that are carrying bull calf’s their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves.
No. Calves/Litter:	1 calf at a time. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen
Lactation Period:	Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days.
Milking From:	1 to 6 weeks after Calving
Drying off Period:	The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. Drying off period for around 60 days before she can calve again.
Milk Quality:	Good
Milk Ideal for:	Calves, drinking, cream, cheese, and most dairy products
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They have an award-winning good quality of beef. Unfortunately, they are mostly only known for their meat in Portugal these days. It has a good marble thus it is tender and succulent it is also known for its superb flavor. The meat’s quality remains the same through all the beef cuts and they have a good carcass size with a good dress out percentage.

Meat Production?

Yes, Quality: Excellent

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years
Ave. Maturity Weight:	250 kgs	350 to 430 kgs

CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. Their calf skin is of good soft quality and used in most calf skin products in Portugal.

Skin Production?

Yes, Quality: Good

Skin is used to Produce:

Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc.

CATTLE ⇒	CALF	ADULT
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months for Calf skin	1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

HISTORY

The Arouquesa does not have much information on its history but is a small breed that originated in Portugal. They were mainly found, and still are, in the areas of Porto and Braga, Viseu and Aveiro in Northern Portugal.

They were famed for their exceptionally good beef quality and their powerful strength as draft oxen.
They were imported to Great Britain in the 1800s and early 1900s. In 1902 the breed won the “Best Beef Award”.

They are still used in Portugal for their beef, milk and draft abilities but have been granted the protected geographical status of DOC from the European Union.