WILD BULL

Bos taurus

In the early 1900’s the Auckland Weekly News printed a colourful article “Hunting and Fishing in New Zealand”, which made mention that hunting the Wild cattle of  New Zealand was the most dangerous and exciting sport in the country.

CHARACTERISTICS

Various colours due to the mixed breeding of the herds.  Horns vary depending on the main strain they originated from.  Often a typical Bull looks very similar to a Spanish fighting Bull.

WHERE FOUND

In remote parts of New Zealand and nearby islands.  Today there are only limited numbers of Wild Cattle found in certain locations where early settlers left their stock behind during the 1930’s Depression.  Because of inaccessible locations they have not all been mustered or destroyed.

ORIGINS

Domestic Stock was first brought to New Zealand and nearby islands by missionaries and whalers around 1833, mainly for meat.  Various breeds– Shorthorns, Ayrshires, Jerseys and possibly Kerry Cattle, an Irish strain, escaped or were released for various reasons.  Some true wild cattle of today closely resemble the characteristics of the ancient Irish breed, etc.

Photo caption: Craig Ferguson 2 Bull Types