Heck Cattle was established in the 1920s and was the result of research conducted to get “super cows”. It was that Hitler, in addition to trying to raise and keep unique the Aryan race in people also intended to “get” the Aryan bull. The idea arose between Hitler and Herman Goering and they commissioned the Trujillo to the Hec brothers.
What they wanted was to resuscitate, through genetic crossings, the authentic European bull. That it was larger than Spanish, disappeared at the beginning of the seventeenth century after centuries of slaughter. 2 German biologists mixed numerous bovine breeds successfully. A race-inspired by the euros, wild cattle that ruminated in a premodern Europe.
The resultant was a little smaller than its medieval ancestors, but it maintained the musculature and the distinctive dark brown of those. This race, baptized as Heck, practically disappeared after the war. Most of this race disappeared by the investigations carried out by the victors, sacrificed or simply devoured by the hungry population.
A few were bought from zoos, including a pair, which a Belgian took home. At present, there is livestock in Europe of about 2,0000 copies of “HECK”, 600 in Holland and the rest in Germany, Denmark or France. In Germany, an association has even been created to preserve the species. You may also like to read Highland Cattle.
Characteristics of Heck Cattle
Among the characteristics sought by the Heck brothers was aggression. That according to the Roman chronicles made this animal a fearsome adversary and something that nobody wanted to meet on his way through the countryside. You may also like to read Simmental Cattle.
For this reason, most of the specimens of the so-called “Heck cattle” were incredibly violent to the point that Gow called them “killer cattle”. Not all the cattle behaved like this. But some farmers get rid of those who behave very aggressively because they become completely uncontrollable. So we have a breed of cattle brought by the Nazis that apparently like to attack and kill people. Each individual of this species produces the equivalent of its own weight in manure each year.
This species usually has a coat of dark tone, most of it is between black and dark brown. Some individuals of this species have a clearer face. It has horns high enough and is at a 90 ° angle. Usually, the face is very serious and instills a lot of fear in those around this species. It reaches the height to reach a person. However, it is smaller than the Uro race. This breed is highly resistant, lives outdoors, enduring diversity of climates. They can withstand low temperatures.
Food
One of the most important aspects of raising cattle is their feed. Cattle feed can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, but there are some basics that every rancher should understand. The main types of feeds for cattle are hay, grains, and protein meals. Grains include corn, soybeans and wheat while protein meals may come from poultry products or beef by-products such as blood meal and bone meal.
Hay is an important part of a cow’s diet because it provides roughage which helps them maintain digestive health–especially in winter months when they don’t have access to fresh grasses like they do in summertime pasture grazing season. Don’t forget about salt blocks! Salt blocks provide essential minerals that
Usage
Mainly the heck cattle species was used as an experiment since it had the ability to survive in open spaces. It is also capital to develop without having the care of a farmer. That is why this species was taken to some places to improve the environment.
This is because it can unfold, have a strong diet. And because of the large quantities of manure it produces, it improves the environment. Species of this breed that do not have high rates of aggressiveness are uses as pack animals. You may also like to read Limousin Cattle.
Special Feature
The cattle Heck did not turn out to be one hundred percent a euro. By employing many different breeds of the world inbreeding, genetic variability was unknowingly enhancing. And with it the possibility of reappearing many hidden characteristics in the cattle that they wanted to avoid in their selection. So today you can see some Heck bulls and cows with layers of very variable color or body shape and unwanted horns.
The Third Reich of Hitler developed a great sensitivity for nature and animals in total contradiction with his racist behavior. It was genocidal and bloodthirsty about the human being, not Aryan, which was tragically reflected in the Holocaust. The Third Reich with Hitler in the lead looked for a symbol for their Nazi ideal. And they chose the European Bull that would embrace animals, men, and things. That crazy dream ended with Hitler’s suicide in Berlin bunker in 1945, but the counterfeit bull survived.
FAQ
Do Heck cattle still exist?
Yes, Heck cattle still exist and are found mainly in Germany. Originally developed from a naturally occurring crossbreed between extinct aurochs and domestic cows, Heck cattle represent the closest living relatives of ancient ancestor to modern day domesticated cows.
What are Heck cattle used for?
Heck cattle are a special breed of dual-purpose cattle created by the Heck brothers in Germany using aurochs genetics. This rare breed is one of the oldest and most endangered breeds in Europe – having nearly gone extinct several times throughout its history.
Are Heck cattle aggressive?
The answer to the question of whether Heck cattle are aggressive largely depends on the individual animal and its environment. While some Heck cattle may be more inclined towards being more territorial or aggressive in certain situations, these attributes can also be applied to most other breeds of cattle.
Conclusion
The Heck cattle program has been a controversial topic of discussion for many years now, but it is clear that there are those who still stand behind this attempt to bring back an extinct species. If you’re interested in learning more about the program and how its methodology may have changed over time, be sure to check out our article on the matter here. We hope you found our guide informative! Good luck with your own animal husbandry journey!
As a Reference: Wikipedia
