The Heck or Munich-Berlin is a German breed or type of domestic cattle. It was bred in the 1920s by Heinz and Lutz Heck in an attempt to breed back the extinct aurochs. Controversy revolves around methodology and success of the programme. There are considerable differences between Heck cattle and the aurochs in build, height, and body proportions. Furthermore, there are other cattle breeds which resemble their wild ancestors at least as much as Heck cattle.
Bull, cow and calf in the Auerochsen Wildpark of Rheingönheim
The cattle show a range of colours and phenotypes.
Bull in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve
Cow at Mannheim
Cattle are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Mature female cattle are called cows and mature male cattle are bulls. Young female cattle are called heifers, young male cattle are oxen or bullocks, and castrated male cattle are known as steers.
Image: Cow (Fleckvieh breed) Oeschinensee Slaunger 2009 07 07
Image: lossy page 1 GLW 2 global distributions of a) cattle.tif
Skeleton
Anatomical model, showing the large 4-chambered stomach