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Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) - Agriculture - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumNairaland GeneralAgricultureLatvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) (50467 Views)

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Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Nobody: 8:40am On Jan 20, 2022
Once driven close to extinction, the blue cows of Latvia, a proud symbol of the Baltic country, have been making a comeback over the last couple of decades.

Originally found only on the Baltic coast in the Kurzeme region, cows with light blue or dark ultramarine hides can now be found grazing all over the Latvian countryside.

In the Soviet era, they were rendered almost extinct, with only a few specimens surviving the culling. Even back in the year 2000 there were only 18 blue cows in Latvia, but today they number around 1,500. The unique breed is now considered a symbol of national identity.

Legend has it that blue cows get their color from the sea, but the fact is that they are born almost beige, and gradually change color as time passes. The pigment that colors the cows’ fur a dark blue also affects the flesh of the animal, producing beef that is exceptionally dark and a bit offputting to some beef fans.

Latvian blue cows produced less milk than average cattle – 5,000 liters per cow per year compared to 8,000 for the popular Holstein breed, for example – and even though it is considered healthier and more nutritious, the Soviets considered it a disadvantage.

Not ones to appreciate animals for their qualities rather than their shortcomings, the Soviets set out to replace the Latvian blue cow with more generic cattle breeds that yielded more beef and dairy. This caused the blue cow to almost go extinct. Luckily, the play was saved by a theater play.

In the 1970s, Latvian playwright Gunars Priede launched the play “The Blue One”, a resounding success that brought the Latvian blue cattle back into public consciousness and became a symbol of vanishing national identity. By 2006,  the Blue Cow Association was founded, with the main goal of saving the breed.

Latvian blue cows not only look cool, but they are more resilient than most breeds, being able to “live all year round outdoors, even during the winter frosts, which many other cattle breeds can’t endure,” according to AFP. It;s also apparently resistant to the bovine leukosis virus, which may help scientists identify a gene that might benefit other cow breeds in the future.
Source: https://www.odditycentral.com/animals/latvias-iconic-blue-cows.html

Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Ahmback(m): 8:46am On Jan 20, 2022
Good news......
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by aylive02(m): 2:10pm On Jan 20, 2022
cheesy
Hope say no be person dye am?
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Amuluonyenaego: 2:10pm On Jan 20, 2022
H
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Prayfortheworld: 2:10pm On Jan 20, 2022
Na how Biafra cow Dy be

Land of the rising sun �
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by ignis: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Is the meat sweeter than other meat?
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by bastien: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Dashing
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by lampard8888: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Dammm niggar.. What's all dis nah!!
News don finish for world?
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by nony43(m): 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
If Efi Hausa can cause so much killings between farmers and herders, this one will cause war.
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Dollarremix(m): 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Issokay
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by money121(m): 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Ok
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Younghacka(m): 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Please Let Them Not Make Mistake To Miss Road Enter Nigeria Otherwise, Them Go Chop Them Chop The Extinction Join.
.
grin
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Nipplegodfather: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Wow
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by salt1: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Is that colour blue abi I don old?
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by slawormiir: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Damnnn niggar
Isoright

Interesting
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Goldp5988(f): 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
Noted
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Pootle: 2:11pm On Jan 20, 2022
bubu will add it to his collections
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by tutudesz: 2:12pm On Jan 20, 2022
Blue pomo and fufu grin

Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Thatssobeyonce(f): 2:12pm On Jan 20, 2022
They ain't fine tho, i was expecting them to look better LOL
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by fuckdemrepented: 2:12pm On Jan 20, 2022
This one go nice for pepper soup
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Thatssobeyonce(f): 2:12pm On Jan 20, 2022
salt1:
Is that colour blue abi I don old?
It's not, they're barely blue
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Uzomacharles(m): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
Shey dem dey eat am?
If yes,
Then no problem
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Realists(m): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
Prayfortheworld:
Na how Biafra cow Dy be

Land of the rising sun �
Say no to human cannibalism but cow#
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Candidlady: 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
smiley
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Kingluqman(m): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
Another Buhari achievement, Lai must hear this grin
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Thatssobeyonce(f): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
fuckdemrepented:
This one go nice for pepper soup
The one for naija don finish?
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by deepwater(f): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
that one na blue?
this type plenty for 9ja na
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by Thatssobeyonce(f): 2:13pm On Jan 20, 2022
Kingluqman:
Another Buhari achievement, Lai must hear this grin
Bubu going to buy them to keep in daura already
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by rita25(f): 2:14pm On Jan 20, 2022
if the hyde is blue does it mean the meat is pink? or am i hungry? undecided
Re: Latvia's Iconic Blue Cows (Photos) by YourFavorite21(m): 2:14pm On Jan 20, 2022
Where I fit buy this one for Nigeria?
1 2 Reply

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