The Aure et Saint-Girons or Casta is an endangered French
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
domestic cattle. The breed name derives from its two principal areas of origin, the
Vallée d'Aure
The vallée d'Aure is located in the French Pyrenees, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the region of Midi-Pyrénées.
Geography
The vallée d'Aure is part of the pays d'Aure, of which the historical capital is Arreau.
It corresponds to ...
in the
département of the
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs es, Altos Pirineos; ca, Alts Pirineus alts piɾiˈneʊs English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. ...
, and the area of
Saint-Girons and the
Couserans in the
Ariège. The name "Casta" derives from its chestnut colour.
History
The Casta originates in the French
Pyrénées. It is among the oldest breeds of the
Midi. Traditionally, two types were recognised, from two different areas of the range: the Auroise, from the
Vallée d'Aure
The vallée d'Aure is located in the French Pyrenees, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the region of Midi-Pyrénées.
Geography
The vallée d'Aure is part of the pays d'Aure, of which the historical capital is Arreau.
It corresponds to ...
in the
département of the
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs es, Altos Pirineos; ca, Alts Pirineus alts piɾiˈneʊs English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. ...
; and the Saint-Gironnaise, from the area of
Saint-Girons and the
Couserans in the
Ariège. The breed was found throughout the high Pyrénées, from the area of
Tarbes in the west to
Foix in the east.
The breed was officially named the "race bovine d'Aure et de Saint-Girons" in 1900. A
herd-book was established in 1901 or in 1919.
During the 1960s there was some limited
cross-breeding with the
Bazadais breed of the
Gironde
Gironde ( US usually, , ; oc, Gironda, ) is the largest department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the Gironde estuary, a major waterway, its prefecture is Bordeaux. In 2019, it had a population of 1,62 ...
.
Between 1930 and 1958, the population of the Casta fell from about 30 000 to less than 9 000 head. In the years after the
Second World War, numbers fell still further, and by 1983 only 76 cows in 12 farms could be found. The breed was listed by the
FAO as "endangered-maintained" in 2007. In 2005, the population was estimated at 427 head; in 2014 it was 320.
Characteristics
The Casta is usually grey, but may also be chestnut-brown. The skin and mucous membranes are pale. The horns are lyre-shaped. Bulls weigh about and cows about . Cows stand about at the
withers.
Uses
The Casta was originally a triple-purpose breed, kept for meat, for milk, and for
draught work. It is now raised mainly for meat. The milk has a high fat content, and is used in the production of cheese.
References
.
{{Cattle breeds of France
Cattle breeds originating in France