Breeds of Kalmykia
The steppe republic on the lower Volga, home of the Kalmyk people and of the red Kalmyk cattle they brought from Central Asia.
Breeds of this place
Best time: May to June, when the steppe is green.
Kalmykia lies on the dry steppe west of the Caspian Sea and the lower Volga. Its people, the Kalmyks, are Oirat Mongols who migrated here from Dzungaria in the early seventeenth century, bringing their herds with them. It is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the main religion, and its capital, Elista, has one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe.
Kalmyk cattle
Kalmyk cattle are red with white markings, hardy beef cattle adapted to the extreme heat and cold of the steppe. They can graze outdoors all year, digging through snow for grass. They put on fat quickly in summer to survive the winter. The breed has also been used to develop other steppe beef breeds, such as the Kazakh Whiteheaded.
Herding on the steppe
The Kalmyks were nomadic herders of horses, sheep, camels and cattle. In the Soviet period, they were deported to Siberia in 1943 and only allowed to return in 1957, and their herds were scattered. Today livestock remains central to the republic's economy, and herding families still graze cattle on the open steppe.
A trail idea for Kalmykia
- Elista The capital, with its great Buddhist temple.
- Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni The large temple in the centre of Elista.
- Open steppe Herds of red Kalmyk cattle on the grassland.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kalmykia" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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