Ukrainian Grey

	In Cherkasy Oblast
Conservation status	FAO (2007): critically endangered[1]; DAD-IS (2023): at risk/endangered[2];
Other names	Сіра українська порода, sira ukrayin'ska; Ukrainian Steppe; Malorussian; Cherkassian; Black Sea[3];
Country of origin	Ukraine
Distribution	Ukraine
Traits
Weight	Male: 900–1050 kg[3]; Female: 580–610 kg[3];
Height	Male: 137 cm[4]; Female: 129 cm[4];
Coat	grey, darker on foreparts
Horn status	lyre-shaped, long
	Cattle; Bos primigenius;

The Ukrainian Grey (Ukrainian: Сіра українська порода, sira ukrayin'ska) is an ancient Ukrainian breed of Podolian cattle.[4] It is a hardy breed, and was traditionally used both for meat and for draught power. It is similar to other European steppe cattle breeds such as the Hungarian Grey and the Italian Podolica.

Illustration on a postage stamp

History

The Ukrainian Grey has been shown by studies of microsatellite data to be a very ancient one, as are some other related breeds of Grey Steppe cattle such as the Serbian Steppe.[3]^: 319 Until the beginning of the twentieth century the Ukrainian Grey was the principal cattle breed of Ukraine.[5]^: 36 It was hardy, frugal and well adapted to the steppe environment, and was used principally as a draught animal; when heavy horses began to replace oxen in agriculture in the nineteenth century, the breed started to decline.[5]^: 36 A herd-book was started in 1935, at which time it represented about 6.4% of the total cattle population in Ukraine.[3]^: 319[4]

A conservation programme was begun in the 1960s, and two conservation herds were established, one at Polivanovka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and another at Askania-Nova in Kherson Oblast; in 1982 a small herd of 125 animals was moved from Askania-Nova to Cherga in the Altai Republic.[5]^: 34 Since 1980 the population reported has usually been approximately 1000 head, with a high of 1500 in 1990 and a low of about 700 in 2004.[2] In 2007 the conservation status of the breed was listed by the FAO as "critical".[1]^: 117 In 2011 the total number in three conservation herds was 1188, with 32 bulls and 440 breeding cows.[3]^: 319 The Ukrainian Grey is included in the Ark of Taste of the Slow Food Foundation.[6]

Characteristics

In this primitive breed, both cows and bulls have horns, as well as grey hides which are their namesake.

Use

In the Soviet era of Ukrainian history, the Ukrainian Grey was much used for cross-breeding with other breeds. It contributed to the Lebedin,[7]^: 88 the Red Steppe,[7]^: 40 and the Ukrainian Simmental.[7]^: 75 The extinct Malakan breed of Turkey derived from the Ukrainian Grey.[8]^: 491

References

Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (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: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
Breed data sheet: Ukrainian Grey / Ukraine (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2023.
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.
Breed description: Ukrainian Grey. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 19 May 2008.
Valerii I. Glazko (2001). Podolic Cattle in the Ukraine and Eastern Territories. Stočarstvo: Časopis za unapređenje stočarstva 55 (1): 33–60.
Grey Ukrainian Cow. Fondazione Slow Food. Accessed March 2019.
N.G. Dmitriev, L.K. Ernst (1989). Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO animal production and health paper 65. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251025827. Archived 13 November 2009. Also available here, archived 29 September 2017.
Beate Scherf (editor) (1995). World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity, second edition. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251037299.

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[barb-1] Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (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: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.

[dad-2] Breed data sheet: Ukrainian Grey / Ukraine (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2023.

[cabi-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.

[tiho-4] Breed description: Ukrainian Grey. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 19 May 2008.

[val-5] Valerii I. Glazko (2001). Podolic Cattle in the Ukraine and Eastern Territories. Stočarstvo: Časopis za unapređenje stočarstva 55 (1): 33–60.

[slow-6] Grey Ukrainian Cow. Fondazione Slow Food. Accessed March 2019.

[dmit-7] N.G. Dmitriev, L.K. Ernst (1989). Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO animal production and health paper 65. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251025827. Archived 13 November 2009. Also available here, archived 29 September 2017.

[fao1995-8] Beate Scherf (editor) (1995). World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity, second edition. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251037299.