Brava dos Açores
(most common name)

The Brava dos Açores, as the name indicates, is bred in the Azores — a Portuguese archipelago (cluster of islands) formed by nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Brava dos Açores is described as being thin, and small to medium in size with a reduced dewlap. Because they are less bulky than other Brava cattle breeds, they are more agile and so are used to handle fighting cattle.

The Brava dos Açores belongs to the Fighting cattle group and Iberian Black cattle group.

Iberian Black cattle have:
• a head profile that is straight or sub-concave (curving inwards slightly)
• long horns which spread out sideways and then curve forward, having sharp upward-bent points
• a deep chest with a heavy dewlap
• high withers
• a long back, dipping a bit in the middle
• light hindquarters
• long, strong legs

Iberian Black cattle are often sexually dimorphic (i.e. having two distinct forms) which is exhibited by the bulls being much heavier than the cows.

(Portuguese) Açores = Azores

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-15

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