View source for Normande

{{Short description|Breed of cattle}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{use list-defined references|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox cattle breed
| name          = Normande
| image         = Vachesnormandes.jpg
| image_size    =
| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = 
| status        = [[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=144}}
| altname       =
| country       = France
| distribution  = world-wide
| standard      = 
| use           = 
| maleweight    = 900–1100 kg{{r|marie|page=68}}
| femaleweight  = 700–800 kg{{r|marie|page=68}}
| maleheight    = 155 cm{{r|marie|page=68}}
| femaleheight  = 144 cm{{r|marie|page=68}}
| skincolour     = white
| coat          = red- or black-pied
| horn          = horned in both sexes
| subspecies    = taurus
| note          = 
}}

The '''Normande''' is a breed of [[dairy cattle]] from the [[Normandy]] region of north-west France. It is raised principally for its milk, which is high in fat and suitable for making butter and cheese, but also for its meat, which is [[marbling (beef)|marbled]] and good-flavoured. It is a world breed: it has been exported to many countries and is present on all continents.

== History ==

The Normande originated in Normandy in the early nineteenth century. It resulted from [[cross-breeding]] of local dairy breeds including the Augeronne, the Cauchoise and the Cotentine (all now extinct) with animals of the Durham breed (later known as the [[Shorthorn]]), which were imported from England from 1836 onwards.{{r|brg|ass}} The French population of the [[Alderney (cattle)|Alderney]] breed was also absorbed into the Normande.{{r|cabi|page=192}} A [[herd-book]] was started in 1883.{{r|dad}} [[Performance testing (livestock)|Performance testing]] for bulls was introduced in 1952.{{r|ass|cabi|page2=262}}

The Normande is a significant breed in France. In the 1960s there were some 4.5 million head, representing about a quarter of the national herd.{{r|cabi|page=262}} In 2005 the total number in France was estimated at approximately 2.1 million.{{r|brg}}

The Normand has been exported to many countries and is present on all continents.{{r|dad2|ass2}} Exports to South America began in 1877. Colombia has the largest population of Normande cattle outside France, reported at about 380,000.{{r|dad2}} In Brazil, where the Normande was first imported in 1923, it has been cross-bred with [[zebuine cattle]] to create a hybrid, the Normanzu.{{r|cabi|page=139}}

== Characteristics ==

The Normande is a large-bodied animal: cows usually weigh {{nobreak|700–800 kg}}, and bulls up to {{nobreak|1100 kg.}} The coat is usually red-pied or speckled, but may also be black-pied or blonde. The head is often white, and the surround of the eyes is commonly dark, giving a  "spectacled" appearance. The skin is white and muzzle is dark.{{r|brg}}

The Normande is long-lived and calves easily. In Normandy it is usually kept on grass, but it adapts well to other environments. It has good resistance to sunshine and to extremes of heat and of altitude. It is well adapted to [[mechanical milking]].{{r|brg}}

== Use ==

The Normande is a dual-purpose dairy breed, kept principally for its [[milk]]. Annual yield is {{nobreak|6595 litres}} in a [[lactation]] of 316 days. The milk has 4.4% [[butterfat|fat]] and 3.6% [[protein]]. It is particularly suitable for making [[butter]] and [[cheese]].{{r|brg}} The meat has good flavour and is [[marbling (beef)|marbled]] with fat.{{r|brg}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=ass>[http://www.lanormande.com/histoire_de_la_race_normande.html Historique] (in French). Organisme de Sélection en Race Normande. Accessed December 2016.</ref>

<ref name=ass2>[http://www.lanormande.com/race_normande_internationale.html La race Normande dans le monde] (in French). Organisme de Sélection en Race Normande. Accessed December 2016.</ref>

<ref name=barb>{{cite book |chapter=Annex: Breeds currently recorded in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources |editor-last1=Rischkowsky |editor-first1=Barbara |editor-last2=Pilling |editor-first2=Dafydd |title=The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture |date=2007 |publisher=FAO |location=Rome |isbn=978-92-5-105762-9 |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/435afdb0-3d4d-42b5-9a04-758ff80b89a1 |chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf }}</ref>

<ref name=brg>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090829065850/http://www.brg.prd.fr/brg/pages/rga/bovins/30 Étude de la race bovine: Normande] (in French). Bureau des Ressources Génétiques. Archived 29 August 2009.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=0b1613ebf16355cf65f6a05b9a65fe25,reportsreport8a_50001255 Breed data sheet: Normande/France]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2016.</ref>

<ref name=dad2>[http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=0b1613ebf16355cf65f6a05b9a65fe25,reportsreport16_50000179 Transboundary breed: Normande]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2016.</ref>

<ref name=marie>Marie Dervillé, Stéphane Patin, Laurent Avon (2009). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aoOwsEdtaecC&pg=PA130 ''Races bovines de France: origine, standard, sélection''] (in French). Paris: Éditions France Agricole. {{ISBN|9782855571515}}.</ref>

}}

{{Cattle breeds of France}}

[[Category:Cattle breeds originating in France]]
[[Category:Normandy]]