Originally, Tarentaise were selected primarily for milk production when making their breeding decisions. Due to the habitat of this breed, it was naturally selected for muscling, hardiness and adaptability in order for them to live under range conditions in the French Alps, the result is a dual purpose breed.

Today, Tarentaise are primarily a dairy breed in their native France, where test performances show average milk production of 5,500 kilos (12,199 lbs) of milk in a 305 day lactation period. The milk is predominantly used to make Beaufort, a Gruyere-type cheese. They have a lengthy track record when crossed with British breeds, Tarentaise also have unmatched adaptability and longevity traits. Cows are very maternal, with early maturity, high calving ease and excellent milk quality. The breed is well known for being docile and is easy to work with in any operation. Tarentaise are also known for genetically trim back fat and high cutability, high quality meat and feed conversion efficiency. These market traits have made them a star dual purpose breed in their non-native countries.

A Tarentaise cow is universally recognized for her moderate size, early maturity, large volume of milk and ease of calving. The dark pigmentation of the eyes, feet, and udders guard against pinkeye, cancer eye and sunburn.

Got Milk?

The dairy industry used the advertising slogan, “Got Milk” for years on posters, advertisements and commercials encour- aging us all to drink more milk. I am always reminded of this slogan when producers are looking for more efficient mom- ma cows and ask them, “You got Tarentaise? They Got Milk!”

Tarentaise is uniquely positioned in the beef industry right now as we have more to offer than ever before.  The genetic traits of the breed have never been a secret: extra milk, sustainability, increased efficiency and meat quality. In the current bearish market, beef producers strive to lower input costs while increasing the production of a high quality product that consumers trust.

It is rare to find cattle with the propensity to accomplish both, but we have the answer with Tarentaise.  I believe the secret lies in the “milk quality” found within the genetic profile of this breed. In my experience as a cattle producer, I have never heard a negative comment about the Tarentaise female’s ability to milk. We all favor a female that can wean off a higher per- cent of her body weight while eating any forage type. Many breeds selected cattle with high milk EPDs during the past 30 years only to discover increased input costs and a large framed, late maturing cow herd.  As the margins tighten for cattle- men, efficiency moves to the front of selection pressure, especially in the cow herd. Milk and maternal ability are significant profit drivers, therefore the female who can convert various forage types within multiple environments into pounds of beef is a win!