Ala-Tau
(transboundary/brand name)

(most common name):
• Ala-Tau (Tajikistan)
• Alatau (Kazakhstan)
• Alatauskaya (Kyrgyzstan)
local/other name (English):
• Greyish-brown (Kazakhstan)
local/other name (Kyrgyz):
• Alatoo (Kyrgyzstan)
local/other name (Mongolian):
• Алатау
local/other name (Russian):
• Ала-Тау корова

The Ala-Tau is named after the Zaliyski-Alatau mountains (Zailiiski Alatau) which are on the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Breeding started in the foothills, at the Alamedin State farm in Kirgiziya, Kazakhstan.

The Ala-Tau was developed from 1929 to 1931 when 1,000 Kirgiz cows were bred with imported Dutch Friesian, Simmental and Swiss Brown bulls. The best female offspring were then backcrossed mainly to Swiss Brown bulls, but Kostroma and Yaroslavl cattle also played a part (along with the use of American Brown Swiss semen).

The Ala-Tau, as a new dual-purpose breed, was recognized in 1950 and herdbooks were started in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The breed then spread into Tajikistan where it is known for its good fertility and longevity.

In 1990, Tajikistan had a fluctuating Ala-Tau population of 381,300–814,000, however it was reported then that their numbers were decreasing and no population data has been reported since.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-13

You can also go to:

My Daily Cow® Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and read about other Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan cattle breeds.

The Cow Wall® A-Z Cattle Breed Picture Reference to see other breeds of cattle in the world.