The belgian blue bull is the result of 50 years of selective breeding in Belgium. The goal was to create a breed that produces a lot of milk and meat – something that has succeeded.
However, the animals have unfortunately been afflicted with health problems and have suffered from how they’ve been bred.
Different species of animals have been selectively bred for thousands of years. Man has greatly changed most pets, leaving nearly no trace of their wild ancestors.
“Belgian cattle” was created in the 19th century by crossing blackbrown Dutch and red-haired short-haired cattle. As a result of the crossing, the bulls became blue-haired.
The carnivores are, according to many, one of the most frightening examples of what can happen when man meddles with nature.
The breed is criticized for being “wandering meat plants.” It has abnormally huge muscles – a grown bull often weighs between 1.1 and 1.2 tonnes. In the animal’s body, a protein has been created that inhibits muscle growth, which allows the muscles of the animals to grow much larger than usual.
It has been reported that the genetic mutation produces a number of other effects such as deformed jaws and enlarged tongues that make it difficult for the calves to suckle.
The mutation can also have underdeveloped internal organs – the liver and lungs are significantly smaller than in common cattle – which can lead to breathing difficulties, heart problems and infertility.
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