Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Farmer forced to cull aggressive cows
heck cows
Heck cows are the result of an attempt to bring back the extinct Auroch.

Herd of "super cows" in Devon are descended from those bred in Nazi Germany

A farmer has been forced to cull part of his herd of Heck cattle, which are descended from cows bred for aggression in Nazi Germany.

Derek Gow imported 13 Heck cows from Holland and Belgium back in 2008. It was the first time they had ever been imported into Britain.

Mr Gow has had to cut his herd down to six cows due to their aggressive and dangerous nature.

He told The Guardian: "The ones we had to get rid of would just attack you any chance they could. They would try to kill anyone. Dealing with that was not a lot of fun at all.

"I have worked with a range of different animals from bison to deer and I have never come across anything like these. They are by far and away the most aggressive animals I have ever worked with.

"Some were perfectly calm and quiet and they are the ones we have kept. The others you could not go near."

Heck cows are the result of an attempt to bring back the extinct Auroch, which is often confused with the European bison.

Two German zoo directors, Heinz and Lutz Heck, tried to revive the species in the 1920s, an attempt that was supported by Hermann Goering, head of Hitler's Luftwaffe. Within a few generations, the pair managed to breed calves that had a similar appearance and ferocity to the Auroch.

While most Heck cows were destroyed after the Second World War, some survived.

Image courtesy of Derek Gow.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.