The Irish Moiled is a rare
cattle breed
Over 1000 breeds of cattle are recognized worldwide, some of which adaptation, adapted to the local climate, others which were bred by humans for specialized uses.
Cattle breeds fall into two main types, which are regarded as either two closely ...
from
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. It is a dual-purpose breed, reared for both
beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). Beef can be prepared in various ways; Cut of beef, cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often Ground beef, grou ...
and
milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...
. It originated in
County Leitrim
County Leitrim ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the village of Leitrim, County Leitr ...
,
County Sligo
County Sligo ( , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region and is part of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in ...
,
County Down
County Down () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It covers an area of and has a population of 552,261. It borders County Antrim to the ...
, and
County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...
, but the breed is now found throughout Ireland.
History
The Irish Moiled Cow is one of the oldest breeds of cow in Ireland. Throughout the 19th century, they were relatively popular throughout Ireland, due to being a hardy breed that could effectively be used for both their milk and meat. With the introduction of more specialised breeds (such as friesians for milk, herefords/anguses for beef, etc.), their popularity began to decline. By the late 1970s, only 30 cows and 2 bulls remained, being maintained by only two breeders. In 1979 they were marked as "critically endangered" by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.
Characteristics
The Irish Moiled Cow is one of the most distinctive breeds in Ireland. They are
polled cows (they do not grow horns) and are generally red with a white line on the back and stomach. They typically have a flecked face and are dual producers being used for both beef and dairy products, which is uncommon with most breeds. These cows are slightly smaller than average, weighing around 550 kg. The breed originated in County Leitrim, County Sligo, and County Donegal, but is now found throughout Ireland. The name "Irish Moiled Cow" takes its origins from the Irish word ''Maol'' meaning ''bald''
and references the fact that these cows do not have horns. Until recently the breed was in decline, falling to just two dairy herds in the 1970s with a population that included just 20 breeding females. However, with the introduction of bloodlines from Jersey, Ayrshire, Shorthorn and Friesian breeds, the numbers have improved and are now being produced throughout Ireland, as well as in parts of Britain.
Use
Irish Moiled meat is remarked to be of great quality and has a distinct flavour. This cow is known to produce good beef in poor conditions but needs care to protect it from becoming overweight. It was the quality of Irish Moiled beef that had saved the breed from extinction.
The Irish Moiled cow has a gestation period of about nine months if kept at a decent health.
References
External links
The Irish Moiled Cattle Society
{{British Isles livestock, R.
Cattle breeds
Cattle breeds originating in Ireland
Animal breeds on the RBST Watchlist