Salers
In its own language: race de Salers
A large dual-purpose breed from the Cantal mountains of France, red or black with lyre-shaped horns.
The Salers is a large French cattle breed from the Massif Central. It is kept for milk and beef, producing fat-rich milk for AOC cheeses and veal calves through cross-breeding.
- Cows weigh 700-750 kg and stand 140 cm tall.
- Produces fat-rich milk for AOC Cantal and Salers cheese.
- Crossed with Charolais to produce veal calves.
- Horns are long, lyre-shaped and light-coloured.
- About 300,000 head exist in France today.
What do Salers cattle look like?
The Salers is a substantial taurine breed from the Cantal department in the French Massif Central. Cows stand around 140 cm tall and weigh between 700 and 750 kg. They wear a thick coat that is either mahogany red or black. Their horns are long, lyre-shaped and light-coloured, though a small number are naturally polled. The breed is robust and built for mountain life.
Where does the Salers come from?
This breed originated in the Cantal region of the Massif Central in France. In the nineteenth century, the breeder Ernest Tyssandier d'Escous worked to improve the line through selective breeding. Originally developed for draught work, it evolved into a valued dual-purpose animal for local farmers.
What the Salers is known for
Salers are known for their fertility and ease of breeding. They withstand extreme temperature variations well. Historically, milk production required the presence of a calf to stimulate let-down. The cows produce fat-rich milk and good quality meat, making them highly adaptable to harsh mountain conditions.
How the Salers is bred and kept
Farmers in Cantal practice mountain pasture, moving herds to high altitudes in summer. Selective breeding has been used since the nineteenth century to refine traits. The breed is exported widely, and females are crossed with Charolais cattle to produce veal calves. About 300,000 head remain in France.
Salers, drawn
What the Salers is kept for
The breed provides both milk and beef. Milk is used to make AOC cheeses like Cantal and Salers, plus Fin Gras du Mézenc. Meat is produced directly or via cross-breeding with Charolais for veal. The animals were originally bred for work but are now prized for their dual output.
The land and climate of the Salers
They live in the mountainous terrain of the Massif Central. Farmers move herds to altitude for summer grazing. The breed copes well with extreme temperature changes found in these highland pastures.
At a glance: where it belongs
Land and climate
Celebrations
Keeping Salers cattle
Herds graze on mountain pastures during summer months. Calves must be present to allow milking. Cross-breeding with Charolais is used for veal production. The breed handles temperature extremes effectively.
Numbers, conservation and the herd book
There are approximately 300,000 head in France. The breed is exported to over 25 countries across Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. The Union for the promotion and selection of Salers supports the breed.
Questions people ask about Salers
Where does the Salers breed come from?
It originates in the Cantal department of the Massif Central in France.
What is the Salers breed kept for?
It is a dual-purpose breed kept for milk and beef, including veal production.
What do Salers cattle look like?
They have a mahogany red or black coat, long lyre-shaped light horns, and can reach 750 kg.
How much milk do they produce?
A female produces nearly 3,000 kg of fat-rich milk annually, traditionally requiring a calf present.
Good reading and sources
- Salers cattle on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Salers 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.
More from France
All the breeds of France
🇨🇭 Switzerland and 5 moreSimmental
A large dual-purpose breed from the Swiss Simme valley, red and white with strong growth rates.Taurine · Dual-purpose · Docile
🇫🇷 France and 2 moreNormande
A large red-pied French dual-purpose breed, kept for rich milk and marbled beefTaurine · Dual-purpose · Rich milk
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreMaine-AnjouRouge des Prés
A red and white French beef breed from the Maine country, once a milk and meat animalTaurine · Beef
🇫🇷 FranceVosgienne
A medium-sized French breed from the Vosges mountains, kept for milk and meatTaurine · Dual-purpose · Cold-hardy
Its cousins elsewhere
All dual-purpose breeds
🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreHanwoo한우
A small, brown taurine breed from Korea, once used for work and now prized for its premium beef.Taurine · Beef · Docile
🇿🇦 South Africa and 2 moreAfrikaner
A Sanga-type breed from South Africa, deep red with long horns, kept for beef and draught work.Sanga · Beef · Heat-tolerant
🇮🇳 IndiaHallikarಹಳ್ಳಿಕಾರ್
A draught breed from Karnataka, India, known for strength and the ability of both oxen and cows to plough.Zebu · Draught · Docile
🇲🇳 Mongolia and 4 moreYakགཡག་
A shaggy, cold-hardy highland bovine kept across the Himalayas and Tibetan PlateauYak · Triple-purpose · Cold-hardy