Kalmyk cattle (, Kalmytskaya) is a breed of beef cattle of the former Soviet Union, now found in the Russian Federation, in Kazakhstan and in Tajikistan. It is believed to have originated in Dzungaria, and to have been brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.

History

It is believed that the Kalmyk originated in Dzungaria, and was brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century. In 1980 the total population of the breed in the Soviet Union was estimated at 381,000, of which 217,000 were purebred. In 2023 the Kalmyk was reported to DAD-IS by the Russian Federation, and by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; no population data was reported, and the conservation status of the breed in those countries was 'unknown'.

Characteristics

The Kalmyk is compact and of medium size: the average bodyweight for cows is 430 kg, for bulls 720 kg; average heights are 126 cm and 135 cm respectively. The coat is red, in varying shades, with white markings to the head, belly, and legs. The head is small, with a long face and short horns.