Canadienne cattle
The Canadienne, also known as Black Canadienne, French Canadienne or Black Jersey, is a Canadian breed of dairy cattle. It is the only cattle breed originating in Canada. It derives from cattle brought by French settlers to New France in the seventeenth century, and was the most common breed of domestic cattle in Canada until the late nineteenth century, when other breeds such as the Hereford and Holstein began to displace it. It is still found on some farms and ranches, but is comparatively rare except in certain areas of the province of Quebec. Efforts by an active breed society and the Quebec government have been made in recent years to preserve the breed from extinction.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Canadienne cattle
Finding a responsible Canadienne cattle breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Canadienne cattle. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Canadienne cattles appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Canadienne cattle breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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