The Asturian Valley is a local
Spanish beef breed of enormous foraging ability and good maternal
qualities reared in extensive conditions in the southwest of the
"Principado de Asturias" in the North of Spain.
This breed had a very large population in
the ancient times, but the introduction of more specialized European
breeds, caused a gradual and general decrease in the number of pure
breed individuals along the present century in a fast absorption
process.
However, a slight increase in the number
of registered animals took place in the eighties, and this tendency
continues. Now the breed is expanding not only in number of individuals
but also geographically, from its traditional distribution area
in the southwest of Asturias towards the north of Leon, Galicia
and Cantabria.
Asturian Valley have a straight profile,
chestnut coats with tones ranging from very pale yellow in the lightest
coats of the females to a reddish tone, with discolored cream in
the inner part of the extremities and around the snout and black
in the end and front of the extremities.
In males, the coat is generally darker and
more so at the back of the head, neck and dewlap, bottom of the
abdomen and in the feet, where the color is completely black. Light
colored coats are rare.
Always black, the tone of the mucus membranes
is typical of the breed, as is a more or less marked black spot
under the eyes, and at the end of the tail, round the eyes and hoofs.
The horn is white but its end is black.
Different coats constitute the most frequent defects, disqualifying
for the Herdbook, specially those which tend to gray as it is considered
evidence of presence of Brown Swiss blood.
Similarly, animals with white spots, or tones
different from the slate black in the mucous membranes and end of
the tail or other serious morphological defects shall not be included
in the Herdbook.
Asturian Valley cows are good mothers, calve
with ease, show high fertility and wean large, well-shaped calves.
Surprisingly for those not used to them, they are very calm animals,
which makes handling very easy. Moreover, they are rustic animals
which manage well in difficult lands and endure extreme temperatures
well.
Reference:
Alfonso Villa, Spain
Photographs:
Alfonso Villa, Spain
