Tauros Programme
TaurOs Project is a cooperation between the Dutch foundation Stichting Taurus and numerous European universities such as the Wageningen University and Research Centre. It is a multidisciplinary scientific approach to breed a type of cattle which is hoped to come as close as possible to the extinct aurochs, the wild ancestor of domestic cattle.
Background
The current development of nature conservation applies megaherbivores an important role in maintaining the initial biodiversity of open or park-like landscapes without human interference. Therefore, large game is planned to be reintroduced in several reserves to recreate the initial dynamics of the European ecosystems. The aurochs was one of the most important European ungulates, but was eventually wiped out in 1627. Thus, so-called rewilding has to work with its domesticated descendants, of which several breeds are hardy and robust enough to fill this gap. In many grazing projects, especially in Germany, Heck cattle is used, together with Galloways and Highland cattle. Heck cattle originated in the 1920ies, it was an attempt by Lutz and Heinz Heck to breed a look-alike from several cattle breeds. Heck cattle turned out to be a hardy breed, but is found to be considerably different from the aurochs in several aspects[1].
TaurOs Project formed to achieve a breed of cattle which is closer to the aurochs than previous breeding-back attempts. This is based on the idea that original features of the aurochs are still present in some, less-derived cattle breeds and can be re-united by crossbreeding and selective breeding to the largest possible degree. Stichting Taurus is being running grazing projects with hardy cattle and horses for years and bought numerous cattle breeds found to be authentic for the project from southern Europe[2].
Methods and goal
TaurOs Project uses very hardy cattle breeds, which should preferably resemble the aurochs to a useful extent. Crossbreeding and selective breeding with such breeds should create new lineages which are hoped to come close to the aurochs as much as possible and are fit for being released in European wild reserves. Not only the phenotype and robustness are in the focus of breeding, but also genetic information of the aurochs which might be preserved in these breeds is considered. Accordingly, studies are running parallel under the umbrella of the project, f.e. to evaluate possible introgression of wild aurochs into the European cattle population. Furthermore, the food choice and behaviour of the used breeds is examined[3].
The breeds which are used for crossbreeding mostly stem from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy. For example, these are Sayaguesa Cattle, Pajuna Cattle, Tudanca Cattle, Italian Podolica and Maremmana primitivo. These primitive breeds decreased in numbers during the last decades, some are highly endangered. Scottish highland cattle is used as well, because this breed has a long and dense coat and is very hardy. Several cross individuals have been born already[4]. It is expected that there will be 100 animals around already by 2015. According to Wouter Helmer, the expected aurochs-like cattle will be able to move freely in wild herds in the near future and belong to the European nature just as Red Deer, Wild boar and wolves[5][6].
References
- ^ Cis van Vuure: Retracing the Aurochs - History, Morphology and Ecology of an extinct wild Ox. 2005, ISBN 954-642-235-5.
- ^ Stichting Taurus on TaurOs Project
- ^ The Aurochs is comming back to european forests and grassland
- ^ Stichting Taurus with entries on the crossbred calves (dutch)
- ^ Oerrund keert teurg (dutch)
- ^ Uitgestorven oerrund komt terug naar Limburg (dutch)