LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – The Tarentaise cow, described as “the best mom a calf could have,” has adjusted well to life on this side of the ocean.
The animals were one of the last continental breeds to come to North America from France, said Bryce Burnett of Burnett Tarentaise in Swift Current, Sask.
Moderate in structure, Tarentaises make good mother cows and are “good milkers with well-structured udders.
“It’s not uncommon for them to wean a calf over half their body weight and size,” he said.
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They were originally selected for cross breeding in Montana with Herefords and Angus to produce high quality cows.
Burnett said they are often seen in commercial herds in Western Canada. Their longevity and fertility mean Tarentaise crosses can be retained in herds for a long time. Many live 10-15 years compared to seven years for some other herd cows, he said.
Those factors bode well for Tarentaise as producers look for replacement heifers following recent downsizing due to the case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Alberta this year.
“Our breed can really excel on that point,” he said.
Producers got a good look at the breed Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Canadian National and Junior Tarentaise shows at Lloydminster’s Ivomec Stockade Roundup. Burnett picked up numerous awards, including grand champion bull.
The Tarentaise association chose Lloydminster over Agribition this year to increase exposure of the breed in a different region.
Burnett was pleased with the turnout, calling it one of the breed’s larger shows with more than 40 animals entered.
