Pajuna
(most common name)

(local/other name):
• Castellano
• Raza Pajuna
• Serrana

The Pajuna is an authentic Spanish Mountain breed found in:
• Sierra Nevada
• Serrana de Ronda
• Sierra Morena
• Sierra de la Axarquia

The Pajuna follows a transhumant system of summering in the highlands and then wintering in lowland areas.

The Pajuna is thought to be a descendant of the Brown Atlas of North Africa — however, recently the Limousin has been an influence.

The Pajuna is described as:
• solid chestnut (hosca) coat, darkening towards the extremities
• smaller-bodied than other Andalusian breeds

Pajuna population numbers declined due to:
• crossbreeding with exotic breeds
• crossbreeding with some Spanish breeds (e.g. Retinta)
• farm mechanization

In 1997, the Pajuna was recognized as qualifying for special protection; a breed society was formed in 2001. Because the Pajuna is less economically rewarding, support payments provided under EU agroenvironmental programs are helping the husbandry of this breed to continue.

Also, the rob(1;29) chromosomal translocation is present in the Pajuna at quite a high frequency, being shown by:
• 26% of males
• 34% of females
This translocation is associated with reduced bull fertility.

This page was last updated on: 2024-08-11

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