Kurgan

Kurgan cattle are a Russian dual-purpose breed associated with Kurgan Oblast and the forest-steppe and steppe farms east of the Urals. They were developed during the Soviet period from hardy local cattle improved with productive red and Shorthorn-type breeding, giving them a practical mix of milk ability and beef conformation. Reported animals are commonly red, red-and-white, or roan, with a medium to large frame and enough body depth to carry condition through a severe continental climate.

The breed has been used on farms where cows must milk on stored winter feed, graze during a short summer, and raise calves suitable for beef. Management is much like other northern red dairy-beef cattle: warm winter housing, reliable forage reserves, and selection for udder quality, fertility, feet, and calving ease matter more than showy appearance. In areas where crossbreeding is common, herd records and regional breeding history are useful for identifying true Kurgan cattle and maintaining them as a local genetic resource.

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