Munich-Berlin cattle
(local/other name)

(most common name):
• Heck (Netherlands, UK)
local/other name (English):
• Heck Aurochs
• Heck cattle
• New Aurochs
• Reconstituted Aurochs
local/other name (French):
• Aurochs de Heck
• Aurochs reconsti
• Néo-aurochs

Munich-Berlin cattle were developed from the efforts of the Heck brothers, Heinz and Lutz. Their idea of recreating the extinct wild aurochs of Europe led to these ‘bred-back aurochs’.

Aurochs and Asian aurochs, two species of common cattle, are the ancestors of all domestic cattle. Today, their descendants are categorized under ‘forma domestica’ (domestic form) as:
• Bos taurus (humpless cattle) - descending from European and African aurochs; known as taurine cattle.
• Bos indicus (humped cattle) - descending from Asian aurochs; known as zebu cattle.
• Zeboid (a mix taurine and zebu; humped and humpless) - a ‘pseudo-zebu’ variety; known as sanga cattle.

Beginning in 1921, Heinz Heck (while Director of the Munich Zoo) reportedly used:
• Highland
• Hungarian Grey
• German Black Pied
• Murnau-Werdenfelser
• Allgäuer
• Angeln

Beginning in 1927, Lutz Heck (while Director of the Berlin Zoo) reportedly used:
• Corsican
• Camargue
• Sardinian
• Spanish Fighting cattle

In 1932, Lutz Heck was satisfied with the appearance of his New Aurochs even though they were much smaller and their horns generally pointed up — instead of down or forward (the way they did on the extinct aurochs). Later, Heinz also started to breed his cattle with the Corsican.

Research references give a mishmash of other breeds possibly involved over time since the end of WWII:
• White Park
• Steppe cattle
• Montafon
• Fjällras
• Chianina
• Sayaguesa

This page was last updated on: 2024-06-02

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