Parthenaise Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Parthenaise cattle breed is another of the great French beef breeds that offer cattle of quiet calm temperaments, ease of handling, hardworking and excellent beef.
These large bovines love to idly graze in grassy pastures unfazed by the climate and adaptable to most environments.

PARTHENAISE BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The large well-mannered and easy handling Parthenaise cattle breed is suitable for most farming systems.
Country of Origin:	France
Other Names:	None
Main Purpose:	Meat and draft
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Can be used for	Breed, Meat, Draft
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Not at risk
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	British Parthenaise Cattle Society and Parthenaise Quebec
Cattle Clubs:	Please refer to the British Parthenaise Cattle Society and Parthenaise Quebec for more information about the Parthenaise cattle breed.
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the British Parthenaise Cattle Society and Parthenaise Quebec for more information about the Parthenaise cattle breed.
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	In the 1800s the breed was used as a dual-purpose breed for both its meat and milk from which butter was created. These days the breed is used primarily for its high-quality meat and is very popular in Ireland. They are also exceptionally strong animals that are used for their draft abilities to pull heavy carts to move wood, soil, etc. They were also used in agriculture. These cattle have very good immune systems making them quite hardy and durable not as susceptible to many diseases that other cattle may contract. Which is important for farmers looking for healthy herds especially in today’s market with various diseases all but shutting down various livestock farms due to various outbreaks. They have a high fertility rate and a quick easy breed back delivering strong fast growing young. Their meat is favored due to the animals double muscling meaning that high levels of lean muscle can develop without too much fat.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The bulls of the Parthenaise breed are very muscular and their bodies tend to be more rounded due to their bulging muscular physique. The females are a bit more rounded than the normal blockish shaped cow figure. They have sturdy powerful legs with hard hooves that can withstand rough and hilly terrain.

Size:

Large

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	Black skin with a Wheaton coat	Black skin with a Wheaton coat
Breed Weight:	800 kgs	1100 kgs
Breed Height:	145 cm	155 cm
Horns:	Small lyre-shaped horns	Small lyre-shaped horns
Temperament:	Docile and easy to manage	Bulls should be handled with a lot of caution and care as they can get aggressive at times no matter how docile they may appear
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 Parthenaise cows are easy birthers with little to no assistance required and very few problems. They are quite fertile and breed easily. They make good mothers with very good motherly instincts. They can be used for milk although they do not have very high milk yields.
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 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 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
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Parthenaise cattle breed are relatively fast-growing cattle with double muscling, tender and tasty cuts of meat. Their meat is very lean but has a good carcass yield percentage/meat to bone ratio.

Meat Production?

N/A

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years

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. As a breed of cattle that is primarily used for their meat production, the Parthenaise cattle breeds skin can be used for various leather products

Skin Production?

No, 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 Parthenaise cattle breed are originally from the Deux Sevres region in Central France. They were named for the town of Parthenay with the herd book being established in 1893 which makes them the oldest established breed of France.

The Parthenaise cows were historically known for the excellent quality of milk which was ideal for the making of rich tasty butter. Due to their awesome muscle strength, the bulls were used as a draft animal working the land.

Around 50 years ago a society for the breed was established and along with it came breed improvements. These improvements were mainly put on that of the animal’s beef productions.
The breed was introduced to Ireland around 30 years ago where it was not long before it became really popular beef cattle breed.

They were also introduced to America and Canada where there is quite a large concentration of the breed with quite a high demand for pedigree cattle. The breed is known for the quality of healthy meat with a grade consistency throughout the cuts.