Tropical Dairy Criollo
(transboundary/brand name)

(most common name):
• Criollo Lechero Tropical (Costa Rica/Mexico/Venezuela)
• Criollo Lechero Dominicano (Dominican Republic)
(local/other name):
• Criollo Lechero
local/other name (English):
• Central American Dairy Criollo
• Central American Milking Criollo
• CLT
• Improved Criollo (Costa Rica/Dominican Republic/Mexico/Venezuela)
• Milking Criollo (Costa Rica/Dominican Republic/Mexico/Venezuela)

The Tropical Dairy Criollo is not a singular breed, but rather a name for Criollo cattle of Central America that were developed specifically as dairy animals from the 1950s onwards.

The arrival of zebu cattle (used for beef production) to this region during 1930–1950 led to the loss of most of the Criollo dairy herds. Surviving herds were located in 1955 and institutional herds were set up in Costa Rica (at Turrialba), Venezuela (including the Reyna), and later in the Dominican Republic (Dominican Criollo).The Turrialba herd became known as the Central American Dairy Criollo.

The Central American Dairy Criollo and the Reyna both contributed to the Tropical Dairy Criollo that was established in Mexico (Milking Criollo). Although they are not considered productive enough to be commercial livestock, the value of their genetic resources include:
• hardiness
• longevity
• good temperament
• ability to produce milk on a diet of only pasture

The Tropical Dairy Criollo has three varieties:
• Central American Dairy Criollo (Costa Rica)
• Dominican Criollo (Dominican Republic)
• Rio Limón Dairy Criollo (Venezuela)

As of 2020 in DAD-IS, the Tropical Dairy Criollo is not listed in Nicaragua and is listed as extinct in Venezuela.

This page was last updated on: 2024-05-10

You can also go to:

My Daily Cow® Costa Rica and read about other Costa Rican cattle breeds.

My Daily Cow® Dominican Republic and read about other Dominican cattle breeds.

My Daily Cow® Mexico and read about other Mexican cattle breeds.

My Daily Cow® Nicaragua and read about other Nicaraguan cattle breeds.

My Daily Cow® Venezuela and read about other Venezuelan cattle breeds.

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