runderen

Runderen, the Dutch term for cattle, refers to domesticated bovines kept for dairy production, meat, draught, and other agricultural uses. They include animals from two primary species, Bos taurus (taurine cattle) and Bos indicus (zebu). Cattle are ruminants equipped with a four-chambered stomach, enabling cellulose digestion through microbial fermentation. They are typically fed a forage-based diet, complemented by concentrate feeds as needed to support growth, milk production, and reproduction.

Two main production systems predominate: dairy cattle, raised for milk and dairy products, and beef cattle, raised for meat. Common dairy breeds include Holstein-Friesian and Jersey; beef herds often rely on breeds such as Angus, Hereford, and Charolais, along with crossbreeds. Management covers nutrition, breeding, housing, health care, and welfare. Reproduction is by natural mating or artificial insemination, with gestation around nine months and variable calving intervals.

Globally, runderen form a central component of agriculture and food security, supplying milk, cheese, yogurt, and beef. Cattle farming shapes rural economies, land use, and trade. Welfare standards and environmental concerns—particularly methane emissions, feed efficiency, and land and water requirements—drive ongoing research and policy discussions. The history of cattle domestication spans several thousand years, leading to extensive breed diversity and specialised production systems adapted to regional climates and markets.