Breton Black Pied
(transboundary/brand name)

(most common name):
• Bretonne Pie-Noire
(local/other name):
• BPN
• Breton pie-noir
• Cornouailles
• La race Bretonne Pie Noire
• Morbihannais
local/other name (English):
• Breton
• Brittany Black-and-White
• Morbihan

The Breton Black Pied developed in the Quimper area (known as la Cornouaill) of Brittany (which is an administrative region in northwest France).

A very small-bodied breed, the Breton Black Pied has been described as ‘the most quiet and hardy of all known races’ (US Department of Commerce, 1888a,b). It is also the first to be the subject of a conservation program in France (from 1975).

• 1843 - recognized as a distinct breed in agricultural shows
• 1884 - officially named Bretonne Pie Noire (previously called: Morbihannaise, Bretonne, or Cornuailles); short-lived herdbook started
• 1919 - breed society formed
• 1950s - competition with Frisonne caused numbers to drastically decline; breed society eventually went into dormancy
• 1975 - conservation efforts initiated; numbers have improved since

The Breton Black Pied coat color usually has black predominating.

This page was last updated on: 2024-06-03

You can also go to:

My Daily Cow® France and read about other French cattle breeds.

The Cow Wall® A-Z Cattle Breed Picture Reference to see other breeds of cattle in the world.