Dulong Cattle

Dulong Cattle

Dulong Cattle is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　 Dulong Cattle, formerly known as Large-Eared Cattle, were included in the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Protection Catalogue in 2006. They are one of the seven existing species within the genus Bos worldwide and an independent breed within the Bovinae subfamily, classified as a local meat-type cattle variety.

　　 The central production area of Dulong Cattle is Dulongjiang Township, Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture. They possess the body structure and rugged appearance and temperament of wild cattle, with a sturdy build, well-proportioned structure, high cold tolerance, strong adaptability to coarse feed, excellent meat production performance, and strong adaptability and resilience.

　　 Dulong Cattle (Mythun) are one of the seven existing species within the genus Bos worldwide and one of the six Bos species in Yunnan Province, holding significant taxonomic importance. They are a local meat-type breed and one of the endangered breeds on Earth. Dulong Cattle originate from the Dulongjiang area of Gongshan County, Yunnan Province, and are distributed in the Dulongjiang and Nujiang river basins of Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, as well as in the mountainous regions above 1,500 meters in altitude in India’s Assam, Bhutan, eastern Bangladesh, and northern Myanmar’s Kachin State. They are a semi-wild and semi-domesticated livestock species. Taxonomically, they belong to an independent species (Bos frontalis) within the genus Bos (Bovinae subfamily). In China, Dulong Cattle are the only cattle domesticated and raised by the Derung people, who call them “Abu,” meaning “large and wild.” The term “Dulong Cattle” comes from the Lisu language word “Qu’ani,” which translates to “Dulong Cattle” in Chinese.

　　 Over the years, with strong attention and support from national, provincial, and prefectural authorities, the conservation efforts for Dulong Cattle in Gongshan County have focused on breeding high-quality livestock, primarily in the native Dulongjiang Township, along with relocation-based breed conservation and expansion along the Nujiang River. This has helped enhance the supply capacity of quality breeds. Since their discovery during the national livestock and poultry genetic resources survey in the early 1980s, more than 20 years of dedicated conservation work have been carried out. The population has grown from a critically low number of 77 to the current 2,028—a nearly 20-fold increase. In 2006, the Jiumudang Dulong Cattle Breeding Farm in Gongshan County obtained a Livestock and Poultry Breeding Operation License issued by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture.