Mallorca

"Cattle (bou or vedell) are not very numerous on Mallorca and are almost always found on the plain, more in the district of Manacor than Inca, and more in the latter than in Palma. The districts with the largest number of cattle are Manacor, Artà, Petra, Santa Margalida, Santanyí, Sineu, Pollença, Muro, Felanitx, Capdepera, Sencelles, Maria, Campos, Palma, Sa Pobla and Son Servera. There were more before, and even today their number could be much greater if they had the appropriate pastureland. But, given the current situation, their maintenance is much more expensive than for mules which also lend themselves better and offer wider services in the field. On the other hand, many people fear the damage these animals cause plantations, to such an extent that many rental contracts prohibit the presence of this type of animal. Discounting places where cattle is not common, owners with the largest number of cattle have 80 animals including calves.

Mallorcan cattle tends to be Spanish in origin, today perfectly acclimated to Mallorca where they are considered an indigenous breed. They tend to be medium in size with a yellowish or brown color and a dominant reddish tone and certainly no distinctive trait which calls your attention.

There are also some animals from Menorca, a breed thought to have been introduced on that island by the English last century. And there are others, especially around Palma, imported from the Swiss region of Lake Lucerne and which we can see grazing near Puerta de Jesús. We should not be surprised if this breed becomes generalized on all the island."

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Majorca: General Part. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1982.