German Black Pied Cattle

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The German Black Pied Cattle is originating in the North Sea coast regions of Northern Germany and the Netherlands.

Until the 18th century the breeded cattle of diverse colours in these regions. After 1750 the black pied coloured type was dominating. But there are unicoloured red and red pied cattle, too, until today.

1878 in East Frisia (Germany) the first breeding company was founded. After that East Frisia and East Prussia (today Russia, Lithuania, and Poland) were the most important breeding regions of the breed. Later they extended over whole Northern and Middle Germany.

Since 1958 in Western Germany the breed was crossed the first time with Holstein Friesian Cattle. Since the 1960s these crossed animals were dominating, and so the German Holstein Friesian Cattle was born.

In the GDR they crossed the breed with Jersey Cattle and Holstein Friesian Cattle and created the Black Pied Dairy Cattle race.

The original breeding type was conservated in the GDR as genetic reserve. Single breeders in Western Germany and in the Netherlands could conserve the original type, too.

The German Black Pied Cattle is smaller than the Holstein Friesian Cattle with fewer milk amounts but they are fertiler and more longliving.