Dølafe
The Dølafe is a rare breed of cattle. The breed originates from the Gudbrand Valley, Østerdalen and Hedmarken in Norway. These areas offered good conditions for livestock with easy access to rich mountain pastures. Most Dølafe cattle today came from a single herd at Fåvang in the Gudbrand Valley. Once considered to be endangered, since the 1990s, the activity of the breed has increased and the number of animals has increased considerably. The Dølafe is a small-boned cow with short legs. They are normally horned. It is a multicolored breed, ranging from almost uniformly dark brown to white, brown and black individuals. On average, they weigh approximately 450–500 kilograms (990–1,100 lb).
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Dølafe
Finding a responsible Dølafe 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 Dølafe. 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 Dølafes 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 Dølafe breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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