Limia, Spanish Limiana or raza Limiá, is a primitive cattle breed from the Province of Ourense in Galicia in northwest Spain, which in some features resembles the extinct aurochs.
Description
The average weight is 900 kg for males and 650 kg for females and the average height at the withers is 148 cm for males and 140 cm for females. The colour of the cows is brown, darker on the anterior third.[1] Bulls have a darker coat colour than the cows, ranging from very dark brown to black, with a light eel stripe and sometimes a light saddle.
The primitive anatomy and ecology of this breed makes it valuable for conservation, it is used by TaurOs Project in order to create a breed that resembles the aurochs to the largest possible extend (breeding back) by crossbreeding primitive and aurochs-like breeds.
Population
In 2002 the total population was 136 animals based on a studbook with high reliability. The number of males used in reproduction was 59 and the of breeding females was 66. The Percentage of females bred pure (mated with a male of the same race) was 100%.[2] There were 460 animals ind 2007 and 861 animals in 2011. The population is thus quickly increasing.