Stichting Taurus

Stichting Taurus is a Dutch foundation, which uses large grazing animals in a natural posture without feeding. Using different robust horse and cattle breeds.

Background and practice

According to the Megaherbivorenhypothese had the former large herbivores such as aurochs, bison, wild horses, elk and others have a significant impact on the dynamics between flora and fauna. However, these were eradicated in their wild form either disappeared or largely from the European wilderness. Accordingly, in the modern conservation becoming more common on large grazing animals, which are derived from their extinct ancestors, set to conserve biodiversity of open space.

Stichting Taurus used Konik horses and Exmoor ponies on the one hand, and on the other hand Robust cattle as the Galloway Cattle, the Scottish Highland Cattle and the addition except ox -like cattle sayaguesa, Pajuna, maremmana primitivo and others. These rugged cattle and horses come largely from without feeding and live in the natural landscape Keent free all year round.

Other projects

Stichting Taurus is further involved in the Taurus Project. This multidisciplinary project aims through crossing and selection breeding of robust, except ox -like primitive cattle of a breed which come the aurochs much closer than other cattle breeds today and should be suitable for the reintroduction in Europe's natural areas.