Buša cattle

The Buša cattle (or also Busha; Bos brachyeros europeus[1]) is a small native breed of cattle with numerous phenotype found throughout southern parts of former Yugoslavia (Dinaric Alps). It belongs to the group of the shorthorn cattle.[1]

Buša cow in Bijela gora, Montenegro.

Description
Buša transporting Serbian civilians and soldiers in Gračanica, 1913

The animals are unicoloured brown. They are small: the height at the withers is 100–110 cm. Cows weigh 180–250 kg, and bulls weigh c. 300 kg. Buša heifers become sexually mature at two years of age. The calves are very small: their birth weight is about 15 kg. The breed's fertility is between 85 and 90%. Females stay fertile until an age of twelve years. The life span of the animal is about twenty years.[1]

Characteristics

Bušas are used as draft animals, and for beef and milk production. Although their work capacity is modest, the animals are disease-resistant, well-adapted to harsh climate, and require little food. The milk performance is 700–800 l per annum. The milk contains about 4–6% milk fat.[1]

Variants

Bušas and their cross breeds are widespread over the former Yugoslavia: they are kept in Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Croatia like Lika and Dalmatia, and in Montenegro. They are adapted on karst landscapes and count as robust and frugal. In the winter the cattle is housed for 2–6 months, in the remaining time they are kept outdoor.

References
  1. "Buša". hpa.hr (in Croatian). Croatian Agricultural Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
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