Milking Criollo
(local/other name in English)

(most common name):
• Criollo Lechero Tropical
(transboundary/brand name):
• Tropical Dairy Criollo
local/other name (English):
• Improved Criollo

The Milking Criollo, originating from 18 Reyna cows from Nicaragua and two Central American Dairy Criollo bulls from Costa Rica, began as an institutional herd in Mexico in 1965.

This herd acted as the breed’s center and Milking Criollo from it were sent to various dairy farmers.

Specific to this herd:
• Cows were kept on pasture with no grain supplementation.
• Milk let-down required the presence of the calf.
• Crossbreeding occurred with Canadian, Jersey, Brown Swiss and local Criollo cattle, mostly from Oaxaca (possibly Criollo Poblano).

A recording system for the Milking Criollo, which the farmers fund themselves, shows evidence of genetic progress in milk yield. Coat color is light dun to dark red and they are found mainly in the states of Veracruz and Mexico.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-18

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