The Castilian Morucha cattle breed was saved from extinction thanks to cattle breeder Eloy Vaquero and other local farmers in Salamanca.

When asked about the horned cow initiative that was voted on in Switzerland last year, the friendly and down-to-earth breeder Eloy Vaquero just smiles. For him, who is now breeding Morucha cattle in the fourth generation, the question of whether cows should be allowed to keep their horns is almost incomprehensible. “My animals,” he says proudly during our visit, “are free beings!” He would never interfere with the nature of his animals.

Around 200 head of cattle live here, considered hardy, shy, and independent – not least because they are allowed to roam freely across roughly 800 hectares and are raised in natural cow-calf systems. They feed exclusively on grass, hay, and grain. The cows calve in the wild, alone, without veterinarians or human intervention.

After about half an hour’s drive, we finally spot the first herd – and the magic of this sustainable, authentic form of cattle farming becomes clear to us: the muscular, lean animals with their beautiful silvery-grey coats and long, curved horns almost resemble a herd of gnus. Proud and primeval, they briefly look in our direction before scattering and running off as a herd, disappearing behind a rock. The air smells of earth, thyme, and freshness. We are left in awe, briefly wondering: are we really in Salamanca – or is this the Serengeti?

Breed: Morucha
Slaughter age: approx. 14-15 months
Feeding: Gras, hay, herbs and grain
Aging: 3 weeks dry aged