Xuzhou Yellow Cattle

Xuzhou Yellow Cattle

　　English name: Xuzhou Cattle

　　 Place of origin: Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province

　　 Breed description: Xuzhou Yellow Cattle is a local type within the Luxi Yellow Cattle breed. It is a new type of draft-meat dual-purpose yellow cattle with good performance. Its main characteristics include mostly light yellow coat color, with a minority being reddish-brown and black. The head is refined, with a grayish-black nose mirror. The horns are flat and round, amber-colored, mostly curving forward in a “Dragon Gate” shape, while a minority extend outward horizontally. Bulls have thick and short necks, while cows have relatively longer and slimmer necks, with underdeveloped dewlaps and inconspicuous shoulder humps. The tail is long and hangs down to the hock joint.

　　 They are divided into two types based on body conformation:

　　 One type is the “Tall-Legged Cattle,” which has a taller and larger build, shorter body, square-shaped frame, slender legs, and fast movement;

　　 The other type is the “Ground-Grabbing Tiger Cattle,” which has a shorter and stockier build, longer body, rectangular-shaped frame, thick and short legs, and slower movement. This cattle breed performs well in draft work. Typically, they begin formal work at 1.5 to 3 years of age, with a service life of about 15 years. When two cattle are yoked together, they can plow 4–5 mu of paddy fields or 7–8 mu of sandy land per day. When three cattle are harnessed to a cart, they can carry a load of 1,500 kilograms and travel 15–20 kilometers per day.

　　 Female cattle reach sexual maturity at 6–10 months of age, with the initial breeding age at 1.5–2 years, and can give birth to 8–10 calves. Adult cows yield an average of 2–2.5 kilograms of milk per day, with a lactation period of 6 months producing 360–450 kilograms of milk. Adult bulls weigh an average of 383 kilograms, stand 127 centimeters tall, and measure 144 centimeters in body length; adult cows weigh an average of 342 kilograms, stand 123 centimeters tall, and measure 140 centimeters in body length. The slaughter rate is 52%, and the net meat yield is 42.5%. Generally used for consumption.