History
The Kastelorizo cattle are relics of a population formerly bred in Kastelorizo and neighboring islets. There are no historical records, but the population is reported to be isolated for at least 80 years. The cattle are believed to derive from crosses of cattle arriving from the Turkish coast with cattle from other Aegean islands. Other influences cannot be ruled out since Kastelorizo, together with the other Dodecanese islands, was under Italian rule until 1948.
Morphological Traits
The Kastelorizo population bears features of old indigenous Greek breeds utilized mainly for agricultural work. Measurements obtained from a few animals showed an average withers height of 112 cm for bulls and 101 cm for cows. Average body length for bulls was 167cm and 147 cm for cows.
Colours are always solid with shades of grey to brown-red. All animals exhibit a mealy muzzle except very light grey specimens. Horns are very short with dark tips. The bulls have a small hump at the withers, a developed dewlap, and dark eye rings.
Population
Today the population is at an extremely critical state with only 16 animals surviving among two breeders. Maintaining the cattle in Kastelorizo is economically unprofitable due to the high cost of the required animal feed. Purchasing all or part of the population and transferring it to other islands where their breeding is practicable is of the highest urgency. The population is classified as ‘Critical’.