Blanco Orejinegro
(most common name)
(local/other name):
• Antioqueño
• BON
• Ganado Antioqueno
• Blanco Orejinegro Antioqueña (BON)
local/other name (English):
• Antioquia
• Black-eared White Antioquia
The Blanco Orejinegro is a Criollo dairy/beef type that originated around 1890 in the foothills of the Cordillera and Cauca valley of Colombia. It usually has a white coat with black ears and body spots and highly pigmented skin. The density of skin pigmentation increases and decreases with age.
Unlike 22% of Colombian cattle examined in 2013, the Blanco Orejinegro lacks a common chromosomal abnormality (Robertsonian Translocation 1/29) that has been found to cause low fertility in bulls. Microsatellite studies have also found that the BON is less closely related to other Criollo breeds in Colombia; instead, it is more closely related to the Guabalá and Guaymí of Panama. This may be due to the initial trade routes and colonization from the Caribbean islands into Colombia.
The color pattern of the Blanco Orejinegro is not characteristic of any Spanish or Portuguese breeds and they can be horned or polled. Attempts to improve the breed with British White (1928 and 1950) proved unsuccessful and may have led to the polled animals (but this has not been verified).
The Blanco Orejinegro has four color variants:
• Blanco - predominately white (about 55% of the population)
• Azul y Pintado - very tiny spots (often a kind of blue-roan)
• Dos Pelos - more black coloring
• Peludo - a rare variant (peludo = furry, hairy)
A separate variety with red points also occurs; these are called Blanco Orejimono.
Currently, Blanco Orejinegro meat production is improved by crossing with zebu (Brahman) cows and milk production is improved by crossing with Holstein.
(Spanish) Blanco Orejinegro = White Black-eared
This page was last updated on: 2023-05-14
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