Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle are a large French breed of beef cattle with remarkably easy calving qualities and a lovely appearance! Because it was originally developed as a draft animal, the Blonde d’Aquitaine is easy to handle and docile. It is quite hardy and adapts well to cold or hot climates. The gentle, sweet Blonde d’Aquitaine is remarkably easy to handle and direct.
Generally, Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle weigh 1700 to 2300 pounds, with females weighing about 600 pounds less! Bulls stand 150 centimeters at the withers and females about 142 centimeters. They are well muscled and smooth, with a light to medium frame and bone structure. The light colored, thick horns rise from a broad forehead, and darken at their tips. The muzzle is also broad on a triangular-shaped face, and the entire head is quite long. Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle have, as the name implies, a “blonde” colored coat! The hair is quite short.
Generally, Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle have very thick and well-rounded muscles, which have a tender, fast-cooking texture and good flavor. The carcass yield is very high with thicker cuts than in other breeds of cattle. Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle are known for the low proportion of fat and offal on their carcasses. With a herdbook established in 1898, the Blonde d’Aquitaine was originally developed as a draft animal but later became prized for its beef qualities.
Originating in southwest France sometime during the Middle Ages, the breed was perfected in the 1800’s by crossing local blonde cattle with Blonde de Pyrenees, Quercy, and Garonnais Cattle. Shorthorn, Charolais, and Limousin Cattle were also crossed in much smaller numbers. First shown in 1845, at the Poissy Show, it has since boomed in popularity. In 1972, the first Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle were imported to the United States. Today, Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle are not only highly valued for their beef properties but also for their value in crossbreeding. They are able to produce calves in dairy cattle with higher proportions of saleable meat and thus more valuable!
Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle have a reputation for good conformation and in recent years have spread worldwide, where they are valued as cross breeders and hardy beef cattle. Generally, Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle produce six to eight extremely well formed, strong calves in their lifetimes. Because of the pelvic shape in Blonde d’Aquitaine cows, calving is remarkably easy though birthweights are very high. Muscle does not begin to seriously develop until calves are three to four weeks of age. Blonde d’Aquitaine calves are born long and flat in shape, with long heads and small feet!