Glan
(local/other name)

(most common name):
• Glanrind
(local/other name):
• Glan-Rind

In 1773, Friesian, Bernese and Schwyz bulls were imported into what is now the Rhineland-Palatinate state in southwest Germany (bordering Luxembourg). There, in the Glan river valley, Bernese and Schwyz (later becoming the Swiss Brown) bulls were crossed with the local red cattle. Supposedly, Charolais sires were also used during the French occupation of the Pfalz (1803–1815), a region in Rhineland-Palatinate.

• 1820 - Glan breed recognition
• 1890 - Glan amalgamated with neighboring Donnersberg (Donnersberger Rotvieh) cattle
• 1898 - Glan-Donnersberg herdbook established

In the 1950s, the Glan-Donnersberg, Lahn, Limpurger and Yellow Franconian were amalgamated to form the Gelbvieh (German Yellow). But heavy use of Danish Red blood caused the Glan-Donnersberg to become officially incorporated into the German Red. Then crossbreeding, mainly with Angeln and Red Holstein, pushed the Glan-Donnersberg to the verge of extinction with only the Glan being rescued.

In 1985, thirty-three cows of the Glan type were chosen to rebuild the breed — a bull named ‘Hannibal 927’ was the most important in this mission because he had 25% Glan blood.

This page was last updated on: 2024-06-14

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