Preta

Preta cattle are a Portuguese native breed named for their dark, usually black coat. The breed belongs to the old Iberian working-cattle tradition of southern Portugal, particularly dry inland areas where cattle had to travel, graze rough pasture, and pull equipment before tractors replaced animal power. Preta animals are medium to large framed, hardy, and plain-built, with dark pigmentation and horns in traditional lines; modern selection is mainly directed toward beef production.

Most Preta herds are kept extensively on pasture, stubble, and the montado landscapes of cork oak and open grazing. Management favors cows that calve without assistance, maintain condition in dry summers, and raise strong calves on variable forage. The breed is not a high-yield dairy type, and indiscriminate crossing can quickly obscure its identity, so conservation herds pay attention to registered stock and local adaptation. Good shade, mineral supplementation, and careful stocking rates matter in its Mediterranean home range as much as breed hardiness.

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