Lucerna
A Colombian dual-purpose composite, cherry-red and medium in size
The Lucerna is a medium-sized dual-purpose breed from Colombia, the first composite cattle breed made in South America. It combines Criollo, Friesian and Milking Shorthorn ancestry, has a mostly cherry-red coat, and is kept for milk and meat.
- Colombian composite breed, the first of its kind in South America
- Developed in the Valle del Cauca from around 1937
- Made from Hartón del Valle Criollo, Friesian and Milking Shorthorn
- Cows measure around 128 cm tall and about 480 kg; bulls average 700 kg
- Milk yield averages a little over 2000 kg in 300 days
What do Lucerna cattle look like?
The Lucerna is a medium-sized cattle breed. It is a taurus animal, so it has no zebu hump. The coat is normally a solid cherry-red, though the exact shade can vary. Cows are around 128 cm high. A cow weighs roughly 480 kg; a bull averages some 700 kg. The breed was made as a composite, which means it comes from a planned mix of two or more breeds. It is a dual-purpose animal, kept for both milk and meat. Milk output is modest. The breed is not tall and not heavily built. It has been reported as not at risk.
Where does the Lucerna come from?
The Lucerna comes from Colombia. It was developed in the Valle del Cauca from around 1937. Breeders there crossed native Criollo cattle of the Hartón del Valle type with European dairy imports. The main imports were Friesian and Milking Shorthorn. By 1972 the mix had stabilised at about 40% Friesian. Hartón and Milking Shorthorn each made up about 30%. After the middle 1950s the breeding goal was mainly better dairy qualities. This was the first composite cattle breed to be created in South America.
What the Lucerna is known for
The Lucerna is a medium-sized breed. Cows give a modest amount of milk: on average a little over 2000 kg per lactation, which lasts roughly 300 days. This yield is not high. The breed is reported as not at risk. Its coat is usually solid cherry-red, with some variation between animals. It is a composite developed for dual-purpose use, and its main value lies in combining milk and meat rather than in heavy milk output.
How the Lucerna is bred and kept
The Lucerna was formed by planned crossing over several decades. The original blend used native Criollo cattle of the Hartón del Valle type, Friesian and Milking Shorthorn. By 1972 the proportions had become about 40% Friesian, with Hartón and Milking Shorthorn each contributing around 30%. Selection after the middle 1950s focused on better dairy qualities. The breed is kept on farms. In 1986 only fifteen or fewer farms had it. Later the number of farms tripled, and nearly 3000 cattle were recorded. In 2018 the count was 1028 head. Semen is stored for commercial purposes.
Lucerna, drawn
What the Lucerna is kept for
The breed is kept for dual-purpose farming, producing both milk and meat. Its milk yield is modest: a cow averages a little over 2000 kg in a lactation of roughly 300 days. The beef side is part of its dual-purpose role. The breed was developed in the Valle del Cauca for farms that wanted both milk and meat. It is not a high-yielding dairy specialist.
Numbers, conservation and the herd book
In 1986 the Lucerna was found on fifteen or fewer farms. Later that number tripled and almost 3000 cattle were counted. A 2018 report put the total at 1028 head. The conservation status is given as not at risk by FAO in 2007 and by DAD-IS in 2022. Some semen is held in storage, apparently for commercial use rather than conservation.
From the Lucerna
Questions people ask about Lucerna
Where does the Lucerna come from?
It comes from Colombia, specifically the Valle del Cauca. The breed was developed there from around 1937 as a composite, the first such cattle breed in South America.
What is the Lucerna kept for?
It is a dual-purpose breed, kept for both milk and meat. Milk yield is modest, averaging a little over 2000 kg over a lactation of about 300 days.
What does the Lucerna look like?
It is a medium-sized taurus breed with no hump. The coat is normally solid cherry-red, though it varies. Cows are about 128 cm tall and around 480 kg; bulls average some 700 kg.
How was the breed made?
It was formed by crossing native Criollo cattle of the Hartón del Valle type with Friesian and Milking Shorthorn imports. By 1972 the mix was about 40% Friesian, with Hartón and Milking Shorthorn each around 30%.
Is the Lucerna at risk?
No. Its conservation status is reported as not at risk by FAO in 2007 and DAD-IS in 2022. In 2018 the total was 1028 head.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lucerna 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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