Breed History
Historique de la race
The origin of Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle can be traced back to the sixth century in the southwest of France. At that time they were chosen as draft animals because of their muscle development, hardiness and docile temperament.
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The Blonde d'Aquitaine breed as we know it today, represents a combination of the Garonnais from the plains of Garonne, the Quercy from the hills of Garonne and the Blonde des Pyrenees from the Pyrenees Mountains. These three breeds were re-grouped in France in 1961. The Blonde d'Aquitaine breed was officially recognized as a breed in 1963 with their chief purpose being the production of slaughter calves.
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Detailed History and Breed Characteristics
These cattle are predominately cream coloured, varying from almost white to dark reddish tan shades, showing considerable variation due to segregation of genes resulting from the combination of the three breeds. The Blonde d'Aquitaine breed has been subjected to extensive testing and genetic evaluation in France.
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Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle were first introduced into Canada in 1971, and since then, the years have seen a steady increase in the population. The Blonde breed is the most underestimated breed on the market today and is by far the best kept secret in the beef industry.
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In the mid-90s, the Canadian Blonde d'Aquitaine Association partnered with AgSights (formerly BIO), utilizing their herd improvement tools to produce a consistent, high quality product for both the commercial and seedstock producers. A Sire Summary is produced by BIO annually, updating EPDs and adding in new sires.
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Registration of animals is conducted through the Association's affiliation with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation in Ottawa, the national pedigree service for purebred livestock in Canada.