Enderby Island

Enderby Island cattle are a rare feral-derived cattle breed from Enderby Island in New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland Islands. Their ancestors were introduced in the nineteenth century and then lived for generations with little human management in a cold, wet, windswept environment. The resulting cattle were small, tough, and able to survive on rough vegetation, with varied coats that reflected their mixed foundation. The remaining population is now a conservation breed rather than a commercial type.

When cattle were removed from the island for ecological restoration, conservation efforts moved surviving genetics into managed mainland herds. Their importance is mainly genetic and historical, so breeding requires careful record keeping, avoidance of close inbreeding, and cooperation with rare-breed programs. They should be handled as normal cattle with secure fencing, quiet facilities, and adequate feed, even though they come from a feral background. They are best suited to experienced keepers interested in livestock conservation, not buyers seeking fast growth or high milk production.

Colors: Belted, Black, Black and White, Blaze Faced, Blue Roan, Brindle, Brockle Faced, Brown, Brown and White, Dun, Gray, Grey, Highbelt, Highpark, Lineback, Mottled, Pied, Red, Red and White, Red Roan, Riggit, Roan, Silver, Solid Black, Solid Red, Solid White, Speckled, Spotted, White, White Faced, Yellow