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 Blonde d’Aquitaine is
an international breed which dates back to 1962. Anglo - Saxon countries felt
an immediate interest in it. Soon several countries in the Americas introduced
it on account of its traits, particularly calving ease, quick production and
beef quality. It arrived in Argentina in 1975. Native from south-west France,
it results from crossbreeding three now extinct breeds: Quercy, Garonese and
Blonde of the Pyrenees.
It is a beef breed with a well developed body, notable for its
length and the balance of its carcass: thick and rounded conspicuous muscles,
with no fat. Its head is light and full of expression, straight profile and wide
forehead. The skin is ripe wheat colour, from dark to light.
Adequate feet are easily carried, shoulders firmly attached to the
body and thin but solid bones. Hoofs can be either light coloured or black; black
ones are preferred in Argentina because they are stronger. Deep chest and properly
arched ribs. Large pelvis, longer than wider which facilitates calving.
The loin is wide and horizontal and ends in a thick topside, well
rounded at the back.
Adults weights range between 1100-1300 kilos in males and 850-1000
kilos in females.
The Pyrenees landscape plus the fact that during centuries the breed
was used for pulling carts have produced strong legs with trouble-free feet.
Once in Argentina, animals were first bred in the province of Buenos
Aires and later expanded to other provinces, mostly those with a tropical
climate: Corrientes, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Salta and Jujuy.
They adapted easily to a harsh climate. They were crossbred with
British, Indicus, Creole, British-Indicus breeds, including dairy cattle.
Calving problems are unknown; calf development is excellent, both in
prairies and in hilly, woodland. This breed is not only highly resistant to high
temperatures, it also withstands bitter cold temperatures. Animals live out in the
open, albeit in the snow: herds are reared both in the Andean Patagonia and Tierra
del Fuego.
After working with and for man during centuries, the manageability of
these animals has become a genetic asset. This is most convenient for
breeders/feeders when working with breeding and feeding herds. The trait also
accounts for better metabolism which spells a longer life span it is not unusual to
see bulls and cows over 15 years of age. At this point, feeding for slaughter results in
excellent carcass with intramuscular thickness and no fat.
Argentine herds usually work with 2-4% bulls per cow herd depending on
the size of the pasture. Males walk extensively, they work well and cows are
excellent dams. Calving is easy in this breed on account of the bone formation of
the pelvis, its width in particular.
At birth, calves are long and thin with birth weights of 48k for males
and 45 for females. This is yet another reason why the breed is selected for
industrial crossbreedings.
Calves show an astounding rate of growth, development and weight gain,
tests have shown that daily gains can reach up to 1100 grams and 900 grams in
females.
The breed has a high potential for producing quality beef at any age
and kind: calf, steer, heifer, cow and bull. Thin bodies and bones, scarce fat
thickness over the ribs and a large proportion of red meat result in very high
carcass yields.
Carcasses from pure or cross-breeds yield high weights, adequate
formation, thin bones, little fat and little offal with an excellent yield in red
meat: over 60%.
Blonde d’Aquitaine beef is very much appreciated for its fine
texture and marbling.
In Argentina, farmers have used it to obtain animals with a large
muscular formation, calving ease and fast growth: the breed is particularly convenient for
industrial crossbreedings.
Consequently, both the breed and its crossbreedings are highly valued
by packers and consumers.
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