Herd reich: farmer forced to cull ‘aggressive’ Nazi cows

Derek Gow bought 13 Heck “super cows” for his farm in west Devon in 2009 – the first time they had been in Britain since the Bronze Age.

The cows were bred by German zoologists Heinz and Lutz Heck at the behest of the Nazi party, which wanted to revive the ancient auroch species of bull.

They would try to kill anyone. Cow owner Derek Gow

The auroch is an emblemetic animal from Teutonic mythology, and some Nazi leaders dreamed of letting them roam free for people to hunt them once again.

Mr Gow bred more than 20 auroch cows, roaming free in his fields, but has reduced the herd to six because they were too feisty to handle.

‘Truly primeval’

“Some of them were incredibly aggressive and we just couldn’t handle them,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

“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.

Nazi ‘super cows’ shipped to Devon farm http://t.co/OiHl6n0DnI
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“They are by far and away the most aggressive animals I have ever worked with.”

Mr Gow caused a stir when he first brought the cattle breed back from Germany.

The auroch became extinct in the 1600s but was revived by back breeding by the Heck brothers, who isolated the animal’s ancient DNA in modern cattle breeds.

Mr Gow said the brothers created something “truly primeval”.

The breed is of little commercial value, but Mr Gow said they have conservation value, and now hopes to breed them as meat to be used in sausages.

The meat is a delicacy in Germany and reportedly carries a venison-like taste.