Andalusian Black
In its own language: Negra Andaluza
A black taurine beef breed from western Andalusia, long-horned and now endangered
A large taurine beef breed from western Andalusia in southern Spain, plain black with long horns that curve upward. Once valued as farm draught animals, the cattle now raise beef, but machines and crossbreeding cut their numbers, leaving an endangered line watched over by a breed association.
- Bulls reach 140 cm at the withers and up to 950 kg
- Only about 800 pure animals were left in 2007
- Long black horns sweep upward from the head
- Twins arrive in roughly 1.15 percent of births
- A conservation programme runs with the University of Córdoba
What do Andalusian Black cattle look like?
A large taurine breed, humpless like other European cattle, wearing a plain black coat. The head runs from straight to slightly convex in profile, and the horns are long, rising in an upward curve. Cows measure about 135 cm at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, and weigh 600 to 650 kg. Bulls stand taller, around 140 cm, and are much heavier at 875 to 950 kg. The overall frame is strong and sturdy, built for a working life.
Where does the Andalusian Black come from?
These cattle grew up in western Andalusia, in the far south of Spain. Their heartland falls into two zones: one band of country runs from the city of Córdoba toward the slopes of the Sierra Morena, while the other spreads over Seville, Cádiz and Huelva provinces. In build and look the breed sits close to the Avileña-Black Iberian, another black Spanish type; the two are told apart mainly by where they range. A first breed society appeared in 1996, and the body that guides the breed today was set up in 2005.
What the Andalusian Black is known for
Andalusian Blacks cope with poor weather better than many, a quality farmers in the region have long relied on. Around people they stay calm and are described as easy-going and willing. Health has some weak spots: individuals may develop hypermetria, a nervous condition that makes the leg movements jerky and exaggerated, and a fertility-lowering fault runs through the Andalusian breeds generally, though it seems to appear less often in this one than in its relatives.
How the Andalusian Black is bred and kept
Heifers, the young females, are ready to mate at 18 to 20 months of age. Fertility sits between 80 and 95 percent, and twins arrive in roughly 1.15 percent of births. Cows mother their calves attentively. The breed keeps a stud book, a written register of pedigree animals, which listed 1,415 head at the last count. Numbers were knocked back by crossing with other Spanish breeds, the splitting and isolation of small herds, machines replacing animal power, and breeding carried out without a plan. The association formed in 2005 now runs a conservation programme alongside the University of Córdoba to steady the line.
Andalusian Black, drawn
What the Andalusian Black is kept for
For generations these cattle pulled ploughs and carts on Andalusian farms, and their strength was the point of keeping them. Tractors took over that labour, and the breed has shifted toward meat, which is now its main product. It is also crossed with other breeds to shape beef herds. Herds are usually run on unimproved land, with little more than basic shelter and handling facilities, so the animals largely fend for themselves.
The land and climate of the Andalusian Black
The breed belongs to western Andalusia, where its herds fill two broad areas. One stretch of country reaches from Córdoba city toward the Sierra Morena uplands; the other covers the Seville, Cádiz and Huelva provinces. Most animals live on unimproved farms, places with rough grazing and only rudimentary buildings. The cattle stand up to bad weather well, which suits this plain, low-input way of keeping them.
At a glance: where it belongs
Celebrations
Keeping Andalusian Black cattle
Kept simply, usually on unimproved holdings with basic facilities, the cattle need little beyond what the land offers. Watch for hypermetria, which some animals develop. The fertility fault shared across the Andalusian breeds should be weighed when planning matings, though it appears less often in this breed than in its cousins.
Numbers, conservation and the herd book
This is one of Spain's rarer breeds. About 800 pure animals were counted in 2007, after years of mixing with other local cattle. By 2011 the total had climbed to 1,883. Around 1,415 are written in the stud book, and the breed is classed as endangered. A first breed society was created in 1996; the present one, dating from 2005, works with the University of Córdoba on keeping the line alive.
Questions people ask about Andalusian Black
Where does the Andalusian Black come from?
It is a Spanish breed from western Andalusia. Its herds occupy two zones: one stretching from the city of Córdoba toward the Sierra Morena range, the other spread across the Seville, Cádiz and Huelva provinces.
What are these cattle used for?
Meat is the main purpose today. Before tractors reached Spanish farms the cattle were worked as draught animals, and the breed is still crossed with other breeds to add beef.
How big do they grow?
Cows stand about 135 cm at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, and weigh 600 to 650 kg. Bulls reach 140 cm and between 875 and 950 kg.
Is the breed endangered?
Yes. Roughly 800 pure animals remained in 2007, rising to 1,883 by 2011, with 1,415 in the stud book. The breed association runs a conservation programme with the University of Córdoba.
What is their temperament like?
They are calm and easy to handle, and described as strong and hardy, coping well when the weather turns poor. They also breed readily, with fertility rates of 80 to 95 percent.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Andalusian Black cattle", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryCow rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Sizes, colours and customs differ from one herd, valley or breeder to the next. Folk beliefs are described as tradition, never as advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-16.
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