Picture yourself transported back to the 1920s in Germany. Two brothers, Heinz and Lutz Heck, embarked on an audacious mission. Their goal was to resurrect an extinct species: the aurochs. The Heck brothers aimed to breed back domestic cattle to their ancestral form. This led to the creation of the Heck cattle you see before you.
The Heck brothers wanted to distinguish the aurochs from the European bison. They thought a look-alike would help the public understand the difference. They also believed they could correct the mistake of driving the aurochs to extinction. Heinz directed the Hellabrunn Zoological Gardens in Munich. Lutz directed the Berlin Zoological Gardens. They both announced success only eleven years after starting.
Lutz Heck used Spanish Fighting Bulls. Some were released into the Polish Romincka Forest. These bulls did not survive the Second World War. Heinz Heck used a different set of breeds. All living Heck cattle today trace back to his stock. These breeds included Hungarian Grey, Highland cattle, and Corsican cattle. Also used were Murnau-Werdenfels, Angeln cattle, German Black Pied cattle, White Park cattle, and Brown Swiss.
In 1932, Heinz Heck believed he had bred a bull resembling the aurochs. He named it Glachl. Glachl was a mix of Corsican and other breeds. Most modern Heck cattle come from Central European dairy and beef cattle. These were supplemented by cattle from other regions. Advocates claim that Heinz and Lutz’s results looked identical. However, Berlin and Munich Heck cattle were not very similar.
Today, about 2000 Heck cattle live in Europe. A few exist elsewhere. They’re found in German zoos because of claims that they represent resurrected aurochs. They were once thought suitable for conservation projects. The Heck cattle have faced criticism. Critics question the methodology and the results of the Heck brothers’ programs.
Some experts feel primitive Southern European cattle breeds resemble the aurochs more closely. The Spanish fighting bull is one example. A typical Heck bull stands about 1.4 meters tall. A cow stands about 1.3 meters tall. They can weigh up to 600 kg. Heck cattle are shorter than the aurochs they were bred to resemble.
Heck cattle are bulky. Aurochs had athletic bodies. The legs of Heck cattle are shorter. Their trunks are much longer than those of aurochs. Aurochs had large elongated heads on muscular necks. Heck cattle do not share these features.
The horns of aurochs had a distinct shape. They curved outwards-upwards, then forwards-inwards. They curved inwards-upwards at the tips. Heck cattle horns differ. They often curve too much or do not reach the proper size. Coat color can resemble the aurochs. Bulls can be black with a light eel stripe. Cows display a reddish-brown color. However, there is much variation.
Heck cattle show more heterogeneity than wild animals or other domestic breeds. There is variation in coat color, horn shape, size, and proportions. Despite their differences from aurochs, Heck cattle can cope in the wild. They tolerate cold temperatures and poor food. They are used in breeding projects. These projects aim to create cattle closer to the aurochs. These include the German Projekt Taurus and the Dutch Tauros Programme.
So, while the Heck cattle may not be a perfect recreation of the aurochs, they stand as a testament to an ambitious vision. They remind us of both the power and the pitfalls of trying to recreate the past.