Palmera

The Palmera is a cattle breed from La Palma in the Canary Islands, with roots in stock brought by European settlers and later shaped by island conditions. It is generally described as a light red to cream-colored, horned breed once used for milk, meat, and draught. On an island of steep farms, volcanic soils, and small agricultural holdings, Palmera cattle developed as practical animals rather than as highly specialized industrial cattle.

Today the Palmera is mainly a conservation and local-production breed, often kept in relatively small herds. Management favors animals that handle heat, broken terrain, and forage that may vary sharply by season. Buyers and breeders should look for sound feet, calm handling, and cows that can rear calves reliably without excessive inputs. Because island breeds can be numerically fragile, recording births, parentage, and movement between herds is as important as selecting for beef or milk.

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