Cattle : MEUSE RHINE YSSEL (ISSEL)

Australian Status: LOST

Country of origin : Germany & Netherlands.

International status: Number about a quarter of the Netherland dairy cow population, so about 300,000 in their homeland. 

Arrived in Australia: Straws about 50 years ago. Not known if any live cattle brought here - unlikely but possible in the past before import restrictions were so severe - or embryos (very likely).

Australian Population: Unknown, but genetics (straws for AI) been used here at least 50 years. Probably embryos brought here too. Any information welcome.

History: Often written/referred to as MRY. The names comes from the area it was developed - where three rivers meet - the Meuse, the Rhine and the Issel. Also known as Roodbont (Dutch), Maas-Rijn-Yssel (Dutch), Rotbunte holländische (German), Mosane-rhénane-ysseloise (French), Dutch Red-and-White, MRI, MRY, Red Pied Dutch.

Breed traits: Red and white pied dairy breed. originally dual purpose as beef and dairy, now chiefly a dairy breed.  Thought to have developed from the Munster cattle of Germany and the red pied Dutch breeds. In the 1970's some red Holstein was added, mainly as numbers were still recovering from being almost wiped out in WW2.

Dutch studbook started 1874, German studbook in 1900.

Sturdy breed. Fertile. Disease resistant. Ease of calving. Good natured.

Milk protein to 4%, butterfat over 4%. Also excellent beef.

Organisation: None found in Australia.
Some cows were here in 2017 as glimpse on news article about them online, but news articles behind pay wall. No doubt still some here. Genetics been here at least 50 years - as used for AI in dairy herds that long. Many in the Australian Red mix. No doubt embryos have come in too as the ones here are pure. DataGene's website has annual records. In 2016 they recorded 20 Meuse Rhine Issel cows here DataGene whereas in 2015 66 cows had been recorded DataGene 2015

Additional Notes: Allowed to be registered as Australian Red Dairy cattle (as oen cross) so genetics gone there along with many otehr rbeeds.

Photo : MRY from the Dairy Crossbreed Blog.

Page  by Janet Lane

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