Brava cattle

The Brava or Race de Combat is a French breed of domestic cattle raised in the Camargue, the delta of the Rhône in southern France. It is bred specifically for bull-fighting, either Spanish-style (on foot) or Portuguese-style (on horseback). It is one of two cattle breeds raised in semi-feral conditions in the Camargue: the other is the Raço di Biòu or Camargue breed, which is not a fighting breed but is used in a bloodless bull-sport, the course camarguaise. The Brava derives from Iberian fighting cattle imported in the nineteenth century, and may also be known as the Espagnole Brava.

For other uses, see Brava (disambiguation).

Brava
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 41 
Other names
  • Race de Combat
  • Brave
  • Espagnole Brava
Country of originFrance
Distribution
StandardFrench
Use
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    400 kg[2]
  • Female:
    250 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    125 cm[2]
  • Female:
    115 cm[2]
Coatvariable, usually black
Horn statushorned in both sexes
Notes
semi-feral
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus

History

The first introduction of breeding stock of Iberian fighting bulls to France was an importation to Arles in 1869 by Joseph Yonnet, a breeder; there were no further such imports until 1975.[2][3]: 138  The Brava has long been raised in semi-feral conditions in the wetlands of the Camargue, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and of the Petite Camargue, in the département of Gard in the region of Occitanie. It is one of two cattle breeds raised in the area, the other being the Raço di Biòu or Camargue breed, which is not a fighting breed. Both are associated with the rural and cultural traditions of the Camargue, including the gardians, mounted herders who manage the livestock in manades, and the small white Camargue horses they ride.[4] A breed society for the Brava was established in 1920.[3]: 138 

In 1996, beef from the two breeds of the Camargue, or from cross-breeds between them, received Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée status as "Taureau de Camargue".[3]: 147 [5]: 99 [6][7] A herd-book for the Brava was established in the same year.[3]: 138 

The population in 2004 was estimated at 5950.[8] In 2014 it was reported to be 3275.[9]

Characteristics

The Brava is variable in colour, but is most often uniformly black.[3]: 138 [10]: 177  The mucous membranes are dark.[8] The horns are large and forward-pointing; they are creamy grey at the base, and dark at the tips.[2]

Use and management

The Brava is bred principally for the bull-ring. Approximately 10% of the animals raised are found suitable for this purpose; the remainder are butchered for meat.[2]

The meat of the Brava (along with that of the Raço di Biòu and crosses between the two) can, under strict conditions of pasturage and of zone/methods of production, be marketed with the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée certification of origin as "Taureau de Camargue". Animals that have appeared in the bullring are excluded.[6]

The meat may be subject to dark cutting—a discolouration caused by excess adrenal stress in the animal before death, usually from herding and capture—which disrupts the normal post-mortem transformation of muscle tissue to meat.[3]: 138  This can reduce the market value of the product.[3]: 138 

The Brava is often managed extensively in the wetlands of the Camargue. The cattle are kept in manades, and herded by mounted gardians.[10]: 187 [11]

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed November 2016.
  2. Race bovine de combat (in French). Parc naturel régional de Camargue. Accessed November 2016.
  3. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  4. "Les traditions camarguaises" (in French). Office de Tourisme Communauté de Communes du Pays de Lunel. 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Archived 22 March 2012.
  5. Philippe Marchenay, Laurence Bérard (2016). Les produits de terroir: Entres cultures et règlements (in French). CNRS Éditions via OpenEdition. ISBN 9782271091093.
  6. A.O.C. Viande « Taureau de Camargue » (in French). Parc naturel régional de Camargue. Archived 26 December 2004.
  7. "Présentation de la Filière bovine" (PDF) (in French). Chambre d’agriculture Bouches du Rhône. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 November 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Archived 14 November 2008.
  8. Étude de la race bovine: Raço di Bioù (in French). Bureau des Ressources Génétiques. Archived 7 June 2007.
  9. Breed data sheet: Raço di Biou/France. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed November 2016.
  10. Marie Dervillé, Stéphane Patin, Laurent Avon (2009). Races bovines de France: origine, standard, sélection (in French). Paris: Éditions France Agricole. ISBN 9782855571515.
  11. Nacioun Gardians (Cultural association, Camargue, France)
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