Yaroslavl
(local/other name)

(most common name):
• Yaroslavskaya
• Ярославская
(local/other name):
• Domshinskaya
local/other name (English):
• Domshino
• Vladimir

The Yaroslavl, first mentioned in 1853, was developed from local cattle in Yaroslavl province (about 250 km/155 miles northeast of Moscow) in northern Russia.

Selective breeding included use of:
• Kholmogory (mostly)
• Dutch Black Pied (lesser extent)
Breeding also included to an even lesser extent:
• Tyrol Grey
• Angeln
• Allgäuer
• Simmental
No further admixture after 1882/3.

• 1924 - Yaroslavl herdbook established
• 1990s - ‘Mikhailovski type’ developed by crossing with Holstein (to increase yield and improve udder conformation for machine milking)

Yaroslavl milk is especially good for cheesemaking. A particularly high frequency of the B allele of kappa-casein is found in Yaroslavl cattle. Of the sampled cattle:
• 32% had the desirable BB genotype in one survey
• 23% had the desirable BB genotype in another survey

Yaroslavl also have high frequencies of favorable alleles at other loci that are apparently relevant to milk production.

Breeds using the Yaroslavl for development include:
• Istoben
• Tagil
• Kostroma
• Kurgan

The Yaroslavl can be described as:
• black coat (occasionally red)
• white face with black cheeks
• white underbelly
• white socks
• white switch

This page was last updated on: 2024-07-31

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