Heck cattle

Heck cattle
Dark bull with large horns, smaller cow and red calf
Bull, cow and calf in the Rheingönheim Wildlife Park of Ludwigshafen
Other names
  • Aurochs de Heck[1]: 41 
  • Aurochs Reconstitué[2]: 29 
  • Heckrind
  • Munich-Berlin[3]: 273 
Country of originGermany
Distribution
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    600–900 kg
  • Female:
    400–600 kg
Height
  • Male:
    approximately 140 cm
  • Female:
    approximately 130 cm
Coatshades of red, brown, black
Horn statushorns of various shapes and sizes
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus
The cattle show a range of colours and phenotypes.
Bull in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve
Cow at Mannheim

The Heck or Munich-Berlin is a German breed or type of domestic cattle. It was bred in the 1920s by Heinz and Lutz Heck in an attempt to breed back the extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius).[8]: 196  Controversy revolves around methodology and success of the programme.[9] There are considerable differences between Heck cattle and the aurochs in build, height, and body proportions. Furthermore, there are other cattle breeds which resemble their wild ancestors at least as much as Heck cattle.[9][page needed]

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  9. ^ a b van Vuure, Cis (2005) Retracing the Aurochs - History, Morphology and Ecology of an extinct wild Ox. ISBN 954-642-235-5