Salers
Rare French Auvergne breed required for the Salers AOP. Seasonal milking (May-October) only when cows are on mountain pastures. The breed integrity is preserved entirely by the AOP requirement.
Yield
Low yield by modern standards — 3,000-4,500L/year. The breed is genuinely rare in commercial dairying for this reason.
Dominant regions
Auvergne (Massif Central), France. The Salers AOP cheese requires Salers cows producing only May-October from herbaceous mountain pastures.
History
The Salers breed is one of France's oldest cattle breeds, documented since the 1840s and likely far older. The AOP Salers cheese (separate from Cantal AOP, though related) requires Salers cows specifically.
Flavor character
Distinctive herbaceous, floral character from the high mountain pastures. The seasonal production (only May-October when cows are on pasture) produces dramatically different milk than year-round indoor feeding.
Signature cheeses
- Salers AOP (May-October only)
- Some Cantal AOP production