Finncattle

The Finncattle breeds are of small size and naturally polled; however, they differ in appearance and production levels.

The Western breed has the highest milk production and is the most prevalent of the three with circa 5.000 heads in Finland in 2006.

However, the three types remained distinct, and are considered separate breeds today, despite the shared studbook.

After World War II, foreign, modern dairy cattle breeds were imported to Finland in growing numbers, and the number of Finncattle diminished quickly: in 1960 there still were almost 60.000[2] Finncattle cows recorded, ten years later 7.000,[2] and in 2005 as little as 2.500.

[2] Inbreeding is another great problem with the breeds, since private cattle breeders have had the tendency to strongly favour the few best-rated bulls.