**2.1 Red breed**

The red breeds are a group of populations or breeds to which the local breeds have contributed, especially the grey steppe (Podolic cattle) and Angler and Danish Red breeds, which have appreciable qualities in the direction of milk production, but which lately are strongly competing with the spotted black and white breeds.

*Geographical area*. These populations or breeds are generally widespread in steppe areas or with drier climates in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine (**Table 1**). From a historical point of view, the formation period is in the second part of the nineteenth century, but for some, there are historical data even from the thirteenth century.

*Morphological characterization.* Body development is variable, wither height − 122–132 cm and body weight—350–450 kg, fine and rarely very robust, conforming to the morpho-productive type of dairy cattle. (**Figure 1**). The colour is uniform red, with shades from light red to cherry colour, often with light shades on the underside of the torso, the inside of the legs and in the earlobe, sometimes with white spots on the abdomen or udder. The apparent mucous membranes and hooves are grey-brown. The udder is well developed, globular in shape, glandular in consistency and relatively symmetrical [3, 4].

*Productive characteristics.* In general, the duration of lactation is short (250–300 days), with milk production between 2204 and 5033 kg of milk. The milk has a fat content of 3.8–4.2%. The age of the first calving is a variable, between 27 and 35 months. There are also breeds that, in addition to milk production, have also been exploited for meat, although the weight of calves at birth is 30–35 kg. Slaughter yield between 40 and 50%, depending on age and condition; very well fattened animals achieve a slaughter yield of 51–52%.

*The future of breeds*. In general, these breeds have a vulnerable or critical status, due to very small numbers, with a risk of extinction. Some red cattle populations have also disappeared because they are susceptible to bovine leukosis, as was the case of Red cattle of Dobrogea. Some countries have ongoing programmes to protect local race, benefiting conservation strategies in vivo and in vitro.


#### **Table 1.**

*The red breeds of south-eastern Europe [2].*

**Figure 1.** *Red steppe breed from Ukraine [2].*

#### **2.2 Pinzgau breeds**

The Pinzgau breed was formed as a result of a successive process of crossbreeding and purebred breeding, which began around 800 BC, with the Celts bringing robust cattle to the Hohe Tauern area of present-day Salzburg [4, 5]. Cattle of Celtic origin were crossed over time with local red cattle, with Bern type imported from Switzerland, and after 1740 the population grew in purebred. Over time, some varieties or sub-breeds have been created, such as Pongau, which resembles the Pinzgau breed, but which is distinguished by the darker body colour and a more massive body development; Mölltal, widespread in Carinthia, whose body development is lower.

*Geographical area*. The animals of this breed were formed in the pedoclimatic conditions specific to the Austrian Alps, the lands of Salsburg, Tyrol and especially Pinzgau, hence the name of the breed. Studies have led to the idea that the breed comes from the old local populations, belonging to *Bos taurus brachycephalus* in the mountains and *Bos taurus primigenius* var. *Hani* in the plain area. Since 1820, the Pinzgau breed has been spread in all the provinces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the regions that now belong to Romania, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. At that time, it was the most widespread regional breed, adapted to the local natural environment (mountains, pastures, forests) [4–6].

*Morphological characterization.* Pinzgau animals have a harmonious conformation, good body development, wither height: 133–150 cm and body weight: 550–630 kg in cows and 1000 kg in bulls, differ depending on the area, altitude and technology used. The head is large, the neck short, the trunk short and deep. The legs are short and strong with hard hooves horn, which allows easy movement in mountainous areas. Pinzgau cattle were raised with horns, which is a distinct beauty, but they were also used for traction and then had yokes and harnesses. The colour is red, with a white stripe on the back and belly, tail and udder always white, head and legs always red and white rings around the legs (**Figure 2**).

*Productive characteristics.* The Pinzgau breed falls into the intermediate morphological type, has a good ability to capitalize on fodder from alpine pastures; it is very suitable for grazing. The first calving occurs at 31–32 months, being considered a late breed, with a production life between 5 and 7 years. A very important feature of this breed refers to the high content of k-casein in milk, which provides a better

**Figure 2.** *Pinzgauer breed from Austria [2].*

efficiency of transformation of milk into cheese (**Table 2**). Calves at birth weigh between 31 and 36 kg. Pinzgau cows are good mothers and have a good milk yield, which ensures a high weight gain in calves. In most Pinzgau breeding countries, it is used for milk, but also for meat [4–6].

*The future of breeds*. In general, the number of Pinzgau cattle has decreased greatly, being a breed with a special state, in some countries, the status is even critical. In the future, purebred breeding is expected to happen on the current distribution areas, especially in the mountainous area of the Alps and the Carpathians, at altitudes of 400–1600 m.
