Turano-Mongolian cattle explained

Turano-Mongolian cattle are a group of taurine cattle that are found in Northern and Eastern Asia. They are morphologically and genetically distinct from the Near-Eastern group of taurine cattle, from which European cattle are descended; they may have been domesticated independently.^[1]

Differences from Near Eastern/European cattle

Turano-Mongolian cattle are morphologically distinct from the European taurine cattle especially in the shape of their skull and their horns.^{[2] [3]} The skull is wedge-shaped and has a narrow crown and a depression on the frontal bone. The horns grow upwards instead of forwards.^[3]

Genetically the difference can be seen in the mtDNA haplogroups. Of the five mtDNA haplogroups (T, T1, T2, T3, T4) found in existing taurine cattle breeds, T2, T3 and T4 appear in the Turano-Mongolian group. T4 is unique to the breeds of this group. T is found in both Near Eastern and European breeds, while T1 appears only in African and (at lower frequencies) in Near Eastern breeds. T2 is found in all three Eurasian regions, though only at low frequencies in European and Turano-Mongolian breeds. Finally T3 is common to all Eurasian regions, but found only in very low numbers in Africa.^{[1] [2] [4] [5]}

Resistance to harsh climates and freezing temperatures

Many breeds of Turano-Mongolian cattle show a great hardiness and tolerance towards freezing temperatures as a result of adaption to harsh Asian climates. Especially the breeds of the Asian steppe and the Tibetan plateau are able to withstand temperature fluctuations from –50 °C to 35 °C (–60 °F to 95 °F).^{[6] [7]} A singular adaption is shown by the Yakutian cattle of northern Siberia, whose center of breeding lies close to the northern pole of cold (see climate data). A number of traits, such as a thick winter coat, a small, fur-covered udder resp. scrotum, efficient thermoregulation, and low metabolic rates at low temperatures, lead to their extreme tolerance towards freezing temperatures.^{[8] [9] [10]} A compelling example of this is the case of several cows which survived on their own in the taiga forest for three months in late 2011 in deep snows and temperatures reaching as low as –40 °C (–40 °F).^[11]

Status

In the wake of modernization and specialization in animal husbandry, many Turano-Mongolian breeds have been replaced either outright or through extensive crossbreeding by modern international breeds and become extinct.^[2] Thus, for example, of the Siberian breeds only the Yakutian cattle remain, and at that only in very small numbers.^[10] Others, like Japanese Black and the Kazakh Whiteheaded, have been diluted by crossbreeding with international breeds to varying degrees and often are threatened by further crossbreeding.^[2]

Many southern Turano-Mongolian breeds, especially the Central plain and Southern varieties of Chinese Yellow cattle, while showing pure taurine phenotypes, have in prehistorical and historical times been influenced by an admixture of zebu cattle.^{[2] [12]}

Only a very few breeds of Turano-Mongolian cattle, as for example the Yakutian cattle, can still be called purebred.^[2]

Scientific name

Turano-Mongolian cattle are a subgroup of domestic cattle, Bos primigenius forma taurus, and as such often called the Bos taurus turano-mongolicus group.^[13] They have previously also been classified as a distinct subspecies and even as a distinct species. The invalid scientific names resulting from these classifications are:^[14]

• Bos taurus orthoceros

Stegmann von Pritzwald, 1906,

• Bos turano-mongolicus

Kolesnik, 1936,

• Bos taurus turano-mongolicus (

Kolesnik), 1936.

List of breeds

(not necessarily comprehensive)

• Buryat cattle – extinct^[2]
• Chinese Yellow cattle (China)^[15]
  • Northern yellow cattle^[12]
    • Fuzhou cattle (China)^{[12] [15]}
    • Yanbian cattle (China)^{[12] [15]}
  • Central plain yellow cattle^[12]
    • Jinnan cattle^[12]
    • Luxi cattle^[12]
    • Nanyang cattle^[12]
    • Qinchuan cattle^[12]
    • Wanniu cattle – extinct^[16]
  • Southern yellow cattle^[12]
• Japanese Black (Japan)^[17] – crossbreed; with several strains in the different prefectures, e.g.
  • Matsusaka
  • Tajima
  • Yonezawa
• Japanese Brown (Japan)^[17]
• Japanese Polled (Japan)^[17]
• Japanese Shorthorn (Japan)^[17]
• Korean native cattle^{[18] [19] [20]}
  • Chikso
  • Hanwoo
  • Heugu
  • Jeju Black
• Kalmyk (aka Astrakhan cattle) (Asian steppe)^{[7] [21]}
• Kazakh cattle (Asian steppe)^{[7] [15] [21]}
  • Kazakh cattle (Kazakhstan)
  • Kirgiz cattle (Kirgiztan)
  • Hazake cattle (China)^[7]
• Kuchinoshima (Japan)^[22]
• Menggu cattle (Inner Mongolia)^{[7] [15]}
• Mishima (Japan)^[22]
• Mongolian cattle (Mongolia, incl. Inner Mongolia)^{[7] [15] [23]}
  • Dornod talyn Hevshil
  • Halhïn Gol (aka Khalkhun Golun)^[7]
  • Sanhe cattle (China) – crossbreed
  • Selenge cattle
• Siberian cattle (Siberia)
  • Altai cattle (aka South Siberian cattle) – extinct^[21]
  • Russo-Siberian cattle – extinct^[21]
  • West Siberian cattle – extinct^[21]
  • Yakutian cattle (aka East Siberian cattle) – purebred^{[7] [21]}
• Tibetan cattle (Tibetan plateau)^[15]
• Wagyu (Japanese cattle outside Japan)^[22]

Notes and References

1. Independent mitochondrial origin and historical genetic differentiation in North Eastern Asian cattle . Mannen, Hideyuki . etal . August 2004 . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 32 . 2 . 539–544 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2004.01.010 . 15223036 . 8 July 2013.
2. Kantanen, Juha . etal . 2009 . Maternal and paternal genealogy of Eurasian taurine cattle (Bos taurus) . Heredity . 103 . 5 . 404–415 . 10.1038/hdy.2009.68 . 19603063 . free.
3. Web site: Kazakh . Kranky Kids . My daily cow A-Z alphabetical cattle breed reference . July 2009 . 8 July 2013.
4. Ancestral matrilineages and mitochondrial DNA diversity of the Lidia cattle breed . Cortés, O. . etal . December 2008 . Animal Genetics . 39 . 6 . 649–654 . 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01782.x . 18822101 . 8 July 2013.
5. Marina S. Ascunce . etal . 2007 . An unusual pattern of ancient mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in northern African cattle . Zoological Studies . 46 . 1 . 123–125 . 8 July 2013.
6. Mongolia . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
7. Web site: Kranky Kids . Turano-Mongolian cattle . My daily cow A-Z alphabetical cattle breed reference . 8 July 2013.
8. Ernst, L.K. . Dmitriev, N.G. . 1989 . Yakut (Yakutskii skot) . Dmitriev, N.G. . Ernst, L.K. . http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/ah759e/AH759E08.htm . [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/ah759e/ah759e.pdf Animal genetic resources of the USSR ]. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper . 65 . 92–93 . Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . 92-5-102582-7 . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20091113044601/ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/ah759e/ah759e.pdf . 2009-11-13 . 30 June 2013.
9. Yakutskii Skot / Russian Federation . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
10. Tapio, Ilma . etal . 30 June 2010 . Estimation of relatedness among non-pedigreed Yakutian cryo-bank bulls using molecular data: Implications for conservation and breed management . Genetics Selection Evolution . 42 . 1 . 28 . 10.1186/1297-9686-42-28 . 20626845 . 2909159 . free .
11. Web site: Рекорд выживаемости в экстремальных условиях в Эвено-Бытантайском районе поставили коровы якутской породы . Владимир (Vladimir) . Степанов (Stepanov) . 4 December 2011 . Sakha News . 30 June 2013. 3 pictures.
12. Qiu, Huai . Ju, Zhiyong . Chang, Zhijie . 1993 . A survey of cattle production in China: More attention to animal genetic resources . World Review Animal . 76 . 3 . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/frg/feedback/war/v0600b/v0600b07.htm . 8 July 2013.
13. Ruzina, M.N. . etal . April 2010 . Polymorphism of the BoLA-DRB3 gene in the Mongolian, Kalmyk, and Yakut cattle breeds . Genetika . 46 . 4 . 517–525 . 20536023.
14. Ruzina, M.N. . etal . April 2010 . Polymorphism of the BoLA-DRB3 gene in the Mongolian, Kalmyk, and Yakut cattle breeds . Supplemental Information and Appendices . Genetika . 46 . 4 . 517–525 . 20536023.
15. Web site: Site Search: Turano-Mongolian . The Animal Health & Production Compendium (AHPC) . 8 July 2013.
16. Breeds reported by China . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
17. Web site: What is Wagyu? . Japan Meat Information Service Center . 8 July 2013.
18. Breeds reported by Korea, Republic of . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
19. Kim, EunHee . etal . 23 April 2010 . Identification of genetic polymorphisms in bovine mtDNA . Journal of Animal Science . 88 . 8 . 2551–2555 . 10.2527/jas.2009-2235 . 20418455 . 8 July 2013.
20. Jo, C. . etal . Keys to production and processing of Hanwoo beef: A perspective of tradition and science . Animal Frontiers . 2 . 4 . 32–38 . October 2012 . 10.2527/af.2012-0060 . 8 July 2013.
21. Breeds reported by Russian Federation . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
22. Breeds reported by Japan . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.
23. Breeds reported by Mongolia . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . Domestic Animal Diversity Information System . 8 July 2013.