Kalmyk cattle

Kalmyk cattle (‹See Tfd›Russian: Калмыцкая, Kalmytskaya) is breed of beef cattle of the former Soviet Union, now found in the Russian Federation, in Kazakhstan and in Tajikistan.^[4][3] It is believed to have originated in Dzungaria, and to have been brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.

Kalmyk cattle

Bull at the Moscow breeding cattle exhibition, 1896
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 144  DAD-IS (2023): unknown[2][3]
Other names	‹See Tfd›Russian: Калмыцкая Kalmytskaya
Country of origin	western Mongolia, southern Altai
Distribution	Russian Federation Kazakhstan Tajikistan
Use	Livestock
Traits
Weight	Male: 720 kg Female: 430 kg
Height	Male: 135 cm Female: 126 cm
Coat	red of various shades; white markings on head, belly and legs; pale muzzle
Horn status	horned; short, upward pointing
Notes
known for their extreme hardiness; belong to the group of Turano-Mongolian cattle
Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus

It is believed that the Kalmyk originated in Dzungaria, and was brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.^[5]: 214

In 1980 the total population of the breed in the Soviet Union was estimated at 381000, of which 217000 were purebred.^[6]: 3 In 2023 the Kalmyk was reported to DAD-IS by the Russian Federation, and by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; no population data was reported, and the conservation status of the breed in those countries was 'unknown'.^[3]

The Kalmyk is identifiable by a red coat with white markings typically seen on the head, belly, and legs. These medium-sized animals have a compact body, a small head, a long face, and short horns. They also have a well-developed dewlap, a characteristic trait of the breed. The average bodyweight for cows is 430 kg, for bulls 720 kg; average heights are 126 cm and 135 cm respectively.^[4]

They are believed to have descended from zebu, as suggested by their high number of Sweat glands, enabling them to endure high summer temperatures. This trait, along with their long, thick coat during winter months, allows them to survive in varying climates.

Adaptability and Survival Traits

Kalmyk cattle exhibit high adaptability, suitable for breeding in arid steppes, semi-arid climate, and desert conditions. They are known for their hardiness, robustness, strength of frame, and overall conformation, which make their breeding techniques simpler, more efficient, and cheaper compared to other cattle breeds. Additionally, these cows have excellent maternal qualities and fiercely protect their calves and herd against predators and unfamiliar humans.

However, despite their survival traits, many researchers note the lack of muscling on the rear part of the Kalmyk breed's carcass, likely due to their nomadic living conditions. Efforts to crossbreed Kalmyk cattle with other breeds have shown mixed results, often leading to diminished adaptability to extreme environmental factors. Consequently, pure-breeding in steppe conditions is believed to be the most effective breeding method for this breed [citation needed].

Beef Quality

The beef produced by the Kalmyk breed is celebrated for its exceptional taste, especially in bouillon broth. This breed's potential for high-quality beef production contributes to the cattle industry in the Russian steppes in the East and West of the country.[citation needed]

The Kalmyk breed is recognized as one of the most ancient cattle breeds, believed to have populated the Russian steppes during the Mongol invasion. Erenzhen Khara-Davan, a historian of Genghis Khan, posits that the Mongols have been engaged in migratory cattle breeding since Genghis Khan's time. The Mongols, along with their yurts, belongings, and animals, including horses and beef cattle, migrated as they ventured north and west, colonizing new lands. Batu Khan (Genghis Khan's grandson) notably halted the advance of his armies 200 kilometers from Novgorod. He recognized that the lush grasslands on the outskirts of Novgorod and Pskov were unsuitable for feeding steppe animals, resulting in their inevitable loss. Despite these historical accounts, Khara-Davan criticizes scientists for overlooking these factors when promoting Kalmyk cattle breeding in woodland and mountainous areas.^[7][citation needed].

The Zimovniki stud farm in the Rostov Oblast stands out as a significant establishment for breeding Kalmyk cattle. Founded by A.V. Zarkevich during the prewar period, the farm has continued to be a top pedigree farm for Kalmyk cattle.

In 2009, an ambitious project was undertaken by the owners of RusBusinessInter, Shuchkin V.V and Mataru Raju, who set up a substantial Kalmyk breed pedigree farm in the Samara Oblast's Borsky District and Kinel-Cherkassky District. The cattle for this new herd were procured from Kalmykia. This initiative introduced beef cattle breeding in the area and implemented a unique resource-saving technique for herd management.[citation needed]

• DAD-IS (FAO): “Transboundary breed: Kalmyk.”