Breed: Greek Shorthorn
Species: Cattle
Colour: uni coloured: mainly black, grey, brown, white and blonde
Weight: 250kg males mountain, 300kg males plains
Height: 115 cm males/ 106 cm cows
Country: Greece
Description: Well described. Most numerous and widespread of native cattle but declining. The smallest surviving Greek cattle. Solid shades. Old source reports Mountain and Plains forms which are no longer acknowledged. Mountain 250 kgs (males), Plains 300 kgs (males). Several herds with untypical animals may represent variants, transitional forms, crosses to Katerini Cattle or the obscure Epiros breed. Three herds of free ranging Greek Short Horn type of cattle were reported from highland areas of the Dervenohoria region. Dervenohoria region is in Viotia/Boiotia in south eastern Central Greece not far from Athens. This is the first time in recent years the short horn is reported from so much south and east in Greece. The reported herds are allegedly pure and each consisting of roughly 150 animals. An additional population of around 400 Greek Short Horns is therefore likely. It is suspected that these animals were never reconded and included and previous breed surveys. The Dervenohoria population may represent new blood lines or even a local strain or variation. The importance of its relative isolation from the stronghold of of Greek SH distribution may not be initially apparent. Its status and classification must remain inconclusive until more detailed information is available. Distribution: Dervenohoria region/ Mountains and highlands of Etoloakarnania, Epirus, Kefallonia, Eastern Macedonia and Epious Population: 2150, 1800 cows/ 350 bulls Risk status: end
Specials: thin and short horns indigenous breed, descended from Illyrian cattle that have the characters of Brachyceros. indigenous breed, descended from Illyrian cattle that have the characters of Brachyceros/ native breed, its history and origin needs to be studied (EFABIS d
Uses: Mostly a carcass breed/ The milk is used for the production of Metsovone, Mizithra cheese
Performance: low milk yield