Moiled cow is bred in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Finland. It is also called the Irish Blue Beef Cow and the Finnish Red Beef Cow. Moiled cow was developed in Ireland in 1876 by a farmer named Luke Connolly. He crossed his native Brown Swiss cattle with Brown Swiss cows that had been imported from Great Britain to increase milk production for his herd of dairy cows.
His expertise turned moiled cows into an international success which has since been bred with other European cattle breeds to create modern-day beef cattle worldwide.
Contents
How to identify moiled cows?
The color is light grey, darker on its shoulders, and black tipping on the hair above its tail, udder, and under the belly. It is a very hardy breed of animal and its meat is well-marbled. This cow is a dairy cattle. It produces high-quality milk and the calves are weighing about 100 kg on average.

It has good longevity, with cows producing for about 1500–2000 days. Its health traits are good, but there is a genetic influencer that leads to slipped tendons in its legs which needs to be managed by reducing excessive strain on the leg joints as the animal grows up.
Breeding
Moiled cow is a mixture of brown swiss, red Belgian, and Ayrshire. Further improvements were made by crossbreeding it with Hereford, Angus, and Shorthorn. Bulls are chosen to be either red/white/black or red/white as a standard. Red or white cows are preferred for the non-standard color in the breed.
Red or white bulls are used for cross-breeding with other breeds of cattle since they produce red/white calves. The most common cattle breed which is commonly used in moiled cow breeding is the Brown Swiss landrace which has been used in most countries where the moiled cow has been developed.
Behavioral characteristics
Moiled cow is friendly and playful, but they can be stubborn, especially when it comes to other cattle competitions. It can be a hardy animal that has the strength to be competitive in all aspects of life.
It requires good feed and a rich diet to thrive. It also has a low fertility rate but can breed at a young age. As the animal grows up, it will require more care than other cattle breeds.
Uses
Moiled cow is mainly used for meat production. Its meat is tender and a good source of quality protein. It is also used as a dairy cow, producing large quantities of milk with high butterfat content.
Milk
The moiled cow can produce about 6000-7000 liters of milk in a lactation period of 290 days.
Meat
Moiled cow yields about 500 kg of meat from the carcass in a single male animal. Sometimes bulls may also be castrated and used for breeding.
As pet
Moiled cow is a friendly and affectionate animal that responds well to the training of its owner. It can be kept in a small yard or pen due to its weight.
This cow requires very little maintenance. Its haircoat is easy to maintain with minimal grooming necessary every two weeks. It has good resistance to cold, damp conditions, but it is not suitable for indoor environments.
Special Considerations
Moiled cow is a slow grower, so it needs to be fed with high-quality feed and hay that is carefully monitored to meet their nutritional requirements. It also requires timely veterinary checkups while in an early stage of breeding.
Moiled cow tends to have a low fertility rate, but it is a not difficult breed to breed. The animal is prone to slipped tendons in its legs as they grow up which needs regular exercise management as they grow.
However, review the full breed profile of the moiled cow in the following table.
Best 10 information
Breed Name | Moiled cow. |
Other Name | Moiled cow. |
Country of Origin | Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Finland. |
Breed Class, size | Medium. |
Weight | The average weight of a male is around 550 kg and a female 400 kg. |
Climate Tolerance | Cold and hot. |
Temperament | Friendly, playful, and affectionate. |
Rarity | Rare. |
life span | 12 – 15 years. |
Conclusion
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