See other History Articles
Title: Nazi super cows: British farmer forced to destroy half his murderous herd of bio-engineered Heck cows after they try to kill staff
Source:
The Independent
URL Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro ... ows-into-sausages-9958988.html
Published: Jan 5, 2015
Author: Tom Bawden
Post Date: 2015-01-09 15:22:13 by X-15
Keywords: auroch
Views: 194
Comments: 4
Hitler’s drive to produce the perfect Aryan race was not confined to people – it also extended to a specially bred herd of Nazi-engineered cows, which have turned out to be so aggressive that a UK farmer has been forced to turn half of them into sausages. Derek Gow imported more than a dozen Heck super cows to his West Devon farm in 2009, nearly a century after they were first created in the 1920s. But, Farmer Gow, who is the only British farmer to own the breed, has been forced to kill seven of his herd because the cows were so aggressive they repeatedly tried to kill his staff. “We have had to cut our herd down to six because some of them were incredibly aggressive and we just couldn’t handle them,” said Farmer Gow, who said the meat made “very tasty” sausages that tasted a bit like venison. “The ones we had to get rid of would just attack you any chance they could. They would try to kill anyone. Dealing with that was not fun at all. They are by far and away the most aggressive animals I have ever worked with,” he said. The aggressive breed was produced by German zoologists and brothers Heinz and Lutz Heck, whom the Nazi party commissioned to produce a breed of cattle based on aurochs, a species of extinct ancient wild bull. The resulting cows, bred from wild genes extracted from domestic descendants of the aurochs, had such muscular physiques and deadly horns that they were used in propaganda material during World War II as a further illustration of the Third Reich’s strength and purity. “There was a thinking around at the time that you could selectively breed animals for Aryan characteristics, which were rooted in runes, folklore and legend. What the Germans did with their breeding programme was create something truly primeval,” said Mr Gow. “The reason the Nazis were so supportive of the project is they wanted them to be fierce and aggressive. When the Germans were selecting them to create this animal they used Spanish fighting cattle to give them the shape and ferocity they wanted.” Fresians and Simmentals were also part of the breeding process. The aurochs were a species of wild bull that had once roamed the forests of Europe but were hunted to extinction in the 17th century. The brothers' imitation was slightly shorter than the original, but retained the muscular body, deep brown complexion and shaggy, coffee-coloured fringe. The cattle were mostly destroyed after the fall of Nazism in 1945, although some have survived in European nature conservation parks. Although many of Farmer Gow’s herd were aggressive, others were calm and quiet, he said, adding that he has no regrets. “Since they have gone it is all peaceful again. Peace reigns supreme on the farm. Despite these problems, I have no regrets at all. It has been a good thing to do and the history of them is fascinating,” he said. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: X-15 (#0)
Swiss brown cows are no longer safe to approach due to lack of socialization with humans.
Mmmm...yes, horrible beasts, very deadly:
#2. To: Ada, Lod (#1)
Swiss brown cows are no longer safe to approach due to lack of socialization with humans
-Alex Kurtagic
#3. To: X-15 (#2)
As long as the farmer stays with them, there is no problem. Current practice nowis to leave them alone for the summer and they become wild. -------------------------------------------------- Hikers told how to avoid scuffles with cows As long as you use common sense you'll be all right (europeforvisitors.com) Following numerous reports this summer of "unpleasant encounters between hikers and cattle", the Swiss Hiking Federation has laid down a few ground rules. The common-sense advice, in the form of cartoons, lists various things walkers should and should not do when strolling through open alpine pastures. "Do not scare the animals or look them directly in the eye," the organisation advises. "Do not wave sticks. Never stroke a calf." The leaflet appears to be targeted at urban visitors. Most people who live in the countryside would know, for example, that a cow which has lowered its horns in your direction and is scraping the ground isn't inviting you to pat its head. Evelyne Zaugg of the Swiss Hiking Federation said that while there were no precise statistics on incidents involving cows, walkers are reporting more run- ins than a few years ago. "We base our information on press reports," she told swissinfo. "Part of the problem in compiling statistics is that's it hard to say when we're dealing with an accident." Walk away Zaugg said new rearing practices, where animals spend less time around farmers and roam around pastures with little human interaction, were partly to blame for the anti-social behaviour. Many walkers also panic when confronted by cattle. "Hikers don't know how to react when a cow appears," Zaugg said. The hiking association recommends that if a cow approaches walkers they should remain calm and slowly leave the area without turning their backs on the animal. "In the event of absolute need," it advises, "give a precise blow to the muzzle of the cow." But managing to punch the animal accurately on the nose is easier said than done – especially when there's almost a ton of prime beef sitting on you – and as always in animal attacks, absence of body is better than presence of mind. Zaugg added that cows do not bite, but rather push, pull and lash out. She denied however that cows are naturally aggressive – "they attack because they think their calves are in danger and want to defend them". Dog trouble Michel Darbellay of the Service for the Prevention of Agricultural Accidents, a private organisation that helped produce the leaflet, said walkers had little to fear if they stayed 20-50 metres from any cows. He also warned that dogs and cows rarely see eye-to-eye. Last year in canton Graubünden a mother cow took exception to a walker's dog, and when the woman tried to split up the fight she was flipped down a slope by the cow and badly injured. Darbellay said it is when the dogs retreat towards their owners that walkers are most likely to face a charging cow. "The best practice is to maintain a fair distance and keep dogs on a leash," he said. Zaugg denied that wearing a Swiss flag T-shirt – in effect a red rag with a target on it – increased the chances of being charged by a cow or bull. "As far as I know the colour isn't a factor," she said.
#4. To: X-15 (#0)
I would have bred them to have little black mustaches.
"Have Brain, Will Travel
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest