Kerry cattle facts for kids
Kerry cattle are a special and rare type of dairy cow from Ireland. They are known for being one of the oldest cattle breeds in Europe. People believe these cows came from small black cattle brought to Ireland by early humans, known as Neolithic people, a very long time ago. Kerry cattle were likely the first cows raised mainly for their milk, while other types of cows were used for pulling carts or for meat. The weather in southwest Ireland was perfect for making milk all year round. Ancient people, called Celts, even stored milk as cheese and butter!
What Do Kerry Cattle Look Like?
Kerry cattle are almost entirely black. They might have a small bit of white on their udders (where the milk comes from). Their horns are usually whitish with dark tips. However, most Kerry cows have their horns removed for safety.
These cows are not very big. An adult Kerry cow usually weighs about 350 to 450 kilograms (that's about 770 to 990 pounds). They can produce a lot of milk! Each cow can give about 3,000 to 3,700 kilograms (around 6,600 to 8,100 pounds) of milk during one milking period. The fat in their milk is made of very tiny drops. This makes their milk perfect for making yummy cheese, butter, and yogurt.
Where Do Kerry Cattle Come From?
Kerry cattle likely came from a type of cow called the Celtic Shorthorn. These cows were brought to Ireland as far back as 2000 BC. Over time, Kerry cattle were specially developed to be milking cows. They were perfect for the small farms in southern and western Ireland where families grew just enough food to feed themselves. Because they are smaller, they don't damage the soil as much in rainy areas compared to bigger cows.
Kerry Cattle Today
Sadly, by 1983, there were only about 200 purebred Kerry cattle left in the whole world. A purebred animal means its parents and grandparents were all of the same breed. Luckily, since then, their numbers have grown! There is even a special herd of Kerry cattle kept at a state-owned farm called Farmleigh in Ireland.
Kerry cattle were also brought to the United States in 1818. They did very well there during the 1800s. But by the 1930s, they became very rare in America. Today, there are only a few herds of Kerry cattle in North America. Most of these are newer cows that were brought to Canada.
