Would you be interested in this breed?

hi!

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n564/planinac/IvicaFraniudrutvuAgadvogodinjegbikalikebue.jpg?t=1299422965[/IMG]
a breeder i dont know woth a busa coe. a good comparison of the size.

i’m doing a semminar about busa cattle, a small indigenous cattle breed from balkans.

in the semminary i am asked to write about ways to solve the problem of having a sustainable population of busa, and to make them economically viable.

i intend to write about brands and upscale products, these strategies seem very popular in the moment, but they depend on consumer power, something that is not guaranteed in my country.

the current conservation policy is utterly dependent upon state subsidies for raising these cattle, but of the money should run dry, the future would look bleek indeed.
the population is low and at the moment stable.

so, as one of feedback tactics, i came up with the idea to export of a certain number of animals abroad, for the purpose of securing genetic material in case something should happen here and cause the extinction of this ancient breed here.

FACTS ABOUT BUSA CATTLE

very small sized, alert, disease resistant cattle.
it is a late breed, the first jump being allowed in 2 years of age, and can live up to 20 years.
they have no calving problems, calves weighting 30 pounds (15 kilos) at birth.
give 4-9 liters of milk daily, with around 4 to 6% butterfat.
lactations in the past recorded 700 to 800 liters, but sometimes up to 2000 liters of milk in one lactation of about 8 months, if the cows were well fed.
it’s well accustomed to adverse climate, from scorching sun to heavy snow and drought.
it’s very agile on rocks and steep slopes, and ideal for using small or steep pastures.

hight – cows 110 cm at whitters
bulls 120 cm

weight – cows 500 pounds, or 200 kilos
bulls 700 pounds, or 350 kilos

they are said to be compared more to goats than to cattle when it comes to food consumption.
one good point is their great resistance to all kinds of deseases, malnourishment,
it’s not as heavy or muscular as dexter, it is leaner. and it will give milk, while i heard dexters won’t always do.
in summertime they will both graze and forage on shrubs and tres, and in wintertime can be kept on straw and corn straw, or outside, if the snow isn’t too deep.
very good adaptation ability and resistance are its most prominent traits.

“bad points”:

it’s not as calm as, say, a holstein, it’s an alert little cow, but it can and is regulary is tamed, to be milked.

it has a low weight and little meat.

the question is: would there be enough interested people outside Croatia in raising this breed?

it is a hypothetical question, i dont expect anyone to burden this. in fact, export is baned at the moment, but still i’d like to export a portion of them as a safety procedure.
i’d like to have your oppinions so i know what to say should i open this option in the semminary.

would this breed be attractive in other countries, esp. when you already have Dexters and Jersey cattle?

do you know of any strategies of breed conservation in your country?

thanks for your feedback!