Canarian breed cattle, referred to as "raza basta" in Tenerife and as "criolla" or "raza del pais" in Grand Canary, are hardy yet gentle animals known for their longevity. It is also one of the few cattle species which is used for milk and meat and as well as a draught animal.
Its versatility has been its salvation until today and its capacity as a draught animal has earned it the recognition it deserves; pull competitions have helped the animals regain their status, which had dropped to critical levels.
Support
As part of the Canarian breed cattle support program, the Organic Unit for Livestock has established two lines of action:
- Canarian breed cattle genealogy book
- The Technical Service for Livestock and Fishing, in cooperation with the National Association of Canarian Breed Cattle Farmers, has been working on a Canarian Breed genealogy book since 2002, providing technical assistance both in field work and in the implementation of the genetic improvement program.
- The “Canarian Cattle Breed Genealogy Book Management System Version 1.0.0” application was launched in 2006 to process data from the Canarian Breed Genealogy Book.
- To access this application you will need to obtain a password by contacting the National Cattle Farmers Association (see contact details below).
- The Conservation of Bovine Germplasm Program, implemented as part the conservation of native Tenerife breeds project, has three principal objectives:
- Assess reproduction capabilities of male Canarian breed cattle.
- Equip the Cattle Farmers Association with the necessary resources to reduce the incidence of consanguinity amongst cattle by creating a large enough sample of bulls.
- Create a germplasm bank for the conservation of this breed.
Samples of semen from various Canarian breed bulls are being used for artificial insemination processes. Cattle farmers wishing to obtain semen samples should contact field vets currently working in Tenerife.
Contact details and information
- Casa del Ganadero
- Address: Camino San Diego, 74, 38028, La Laguna
- Locate on Google Maps
- Telephone: 922 315 450