Where does the breed come from? The Savoie region of France. the Tarentaise is a very old breed. It was introduced in 1857 at a county fair in Mount Brison under the breed name of Savoyarde. Then in 1861 the name Tarentaise was given. In 1863 it became officially recognized at the National Agricultural Fair as a French breed. [see Breed History] Where is the Savoie region? Southeastern France near the Italian border. When were they first imported to North America? 1972 What type of terrain and climate ere they exposed to? From the rugged Alps to the warm grasslands. Their adaptability in vastly different terrain and climate has helped them to become at home in many areas throughout the United States and Canada. Are they 'easy keepers'? Yes. They are excellent foragers. They do well in all types of climate and all types of regions. they also maintain their body weight and milk production easily. What do they look like? The average size for cows would be 1050 lbs. - 1250 lbs. Bulls average around 1800 lbs. Cows are a light cherry red with lighter highlights. The bulls are darker in color and as they age, their neck and shoulders darken even more. There are some black purebred Tarentaise. What size are their calves at birth? Heifer calves range from 70 to 85 lbs. Bull calves range from 80-90 lbs. What is their strongest genetic characteristic? In my opinion, it would be their tremendous maternal ability. They have a very long lactation with a very high butterfat percentage. This results in very healthy, bloomy calves with accelerated weaning weights. They have an excellent udder that maintains its shape through nursing many calves. What type of disposition do they have? They are known for their gentle nature. With many years of raising numerous and various breeds of cattle, the Tarentaise are, without a doubt, my choice as the most docile of them all. Herd work, weaning, hauling... all much easier with Tarentaise. Feed lot data scoring for disposition has also been excellent. Is there an association for registering these cattle?  Yes. The American Tarentaise Association P.O. Box 34705 N. Kansas City, MO 64116 The Canadian Tarentaise Associate P.O. Box 5097 Airdrie, Alberta, Canada T4B 2B2 How well do they cross with other breeds? We have had excellent results crossbreeding Tarentaise. They were originally brought to North America to cross with British-based breeds. This can increase carcass value, milk production and fertility. Their moderate size is also a plus. We use a Tarentaise bull in our Angus herd and are very pleased with our calves. We have crossed them with just about every other breed. They produce very nice calves with good length and muscling. Feed lot data confirms carcass value on these calves. The maturity and producing ability of the Tarentaise cross heifer is the trait most impressive about this breed to many cattlemen. [see Crossbreeding] Does this breed have a National show? Yes. Every year in January, the American Tarentaise Association holds their annual meeting and national show in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Livestock Show.