Red Steppe
(most common name in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan)
(transboundary/brand name in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan)

(most common name):
• Krasnaya Stepnaya (Russia)
• Moldavian Red Steppe (Moldova)
(transboundary/brand name):
• Holstein (red and white) (Russia)
(local/other name):
• Chervona Stepova (Ukraine)
• Krasnaya nemetskaya (Russia)
• Rosie de stepa (Moldova)
local/other name (English):
• Steppe red (Moldova)
(historical breed name):
• Krasnaya kolonistskaya (Russian)
• Krasnaya nemetskaya (Russian; until 1941)
• Krasnaya ukrainskaya (Russian)
• Red Colonist (Russia, Ukraine)
• Red German (Russia, Ukraine; until 1941)
• Red Ukrainian (Russia)

The Red Steppe began in Ukraine at the end of the 18th century when East Friesian Mennonites brought their Red Lowland cattle into southern Ukraine. Forty years of interbreeding with the local Grey Steppe cattle followed and this resulted in a red dairy type, known as the Red Colonist (or Molotschnaer).

In 1812, more European farmers were allowed to settle in the area. German farmers brought their Red Highland cattle and continued crossbreeding with the Steppe cattle of Bessarabia and Moldavia, also with the Molotschnaer Red, and this resulted in the Red German (or Bessarabian Red).

During the second half of the 19th century, Swiss Brown, Zillertal, Polish Red, Angeln, Red Trondheim and some Dutch breeds were then cross-bred with Grey and Red Steppe cattle. Several improved varieties evolved and, in 1917, they were all amalgamated. In 1923, a herdbook was established.

In 1940, the Red German cattle population became incorporated into the Red Steppe breed of Moldavia. Their name officially became Red Steppe in 1941.

After 1945, three regional types were also officially recognized:
• Zaporozhye - dairy (highest yielding)
• Crimean Red - dairy (good yield, high butterfat)
• Donetsk - dairy/beef

Since then, the Red Steppe has become widespread — with Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan having the highest most recently recorded population counts.

Other breeds incorporated or involved in Red Steppe development include: Baltic Red, Red Holstein, Red Pied Friesian, Lithuanian Red, Estonian Red, Latvian Brown.

As of 2021, the following population counts are listed in DAD-IS:
• 2002 - 3,600 (Moldova)
• 2003 - 1,288,800 (Russia)
• 2004 - 900,000 (Turkmenistan)
• 2018 - 3,949 (Ukraine)
• 2003 - 1,631,000 (Uzbekistan)

History Lesson:
Moldavia was a region and former principality in Central and Eastern Europe that existed from the 14th century to 1859. As of 2018, its western half is now part of Romania, its eastern side is now the Republic of Moldova, and its northern and southeastern parts are now territories of Ukraine.

Bessarabia was a region within Moldavia. As of 2018, about 65% of its former area is in the Republic of Moldova and the rest is in Ukraine.

Russian to English:
Krasnaya kolonistskaya = Red Colonist
Krasnaya nemetskaya = Red German
Krasnaya stepnaya = Red Steppe
Krasnaya ukrainskaya = Red Ukrainian
Красная степная = Red Steppe
Червона степова = Chervona Stepnova (= Red Steppe)
Красная Украинский = Red Ukrainian
Romanian to English:
Rosie de stepa = Red Steppe
Ukrainian to English:
Червона степова = Red Steppe
Червоний Український = Red Ukrainian

This page was last updated on: 2023-08-17

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