Kalmyk cattle
Kalmyk cattle
Kalmyk cattle are a beef breed from the former Soviet Union. Today they are found in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. They likely originated in Dzungaria and were brought to southeastern Russia by Kalmyk people in the 17th century.
In 1980, the Soviet Union had about 381,000 Kalmyk cattle, with around 217,000 purebred. In 2023, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan reported the breed, but no population numbers were given and its conservation status there is unknown.
Kalmyk cattle are compact and medium-sized. Cows weigh about 430 kg and stand about 126 cm tall; bulls weigh about 720 kg and stand about 135 cm tall. They have a red coat in varying shades with white markings on the head, belly, and legs, a pale muzzle, a small head with a long face, and short upward-pointing horns. They are known for extreme hardiness and belong to the Turano-Mongolian group of cattle.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:29 (CET).