Cattle breed profile
Raço di Biòu
Origin : France — Camargue, southern France
How can this breed be identified?
The Raço di Biòu, also known as the Camargue bull, is a local cattle breed of small size, with a black coat. The animals are light, lively, hardy and very well adapted to life in manades, the traditional herds kept in the pastures of the Camargue.
It is mainly recognised by its black coat, fine and nervous silhouette, and horns pointing upwards. These horns can have several shapes: lyre-shaped, goblet-shaped, or more widely spread, known locally as “larguet”. At the Manade de Méjanes, the horns are often long, broad and lyre-shaped.
The coat may become thicker in winter. Calves may be born brown or black, then gradually become darker as they grow.
Overview, origin and history
The Raço di Biòu is an endemic cattle breed from the Camargue, considered to be very ancient in the region. Over time, it has adapted to the specific conditions of this territory: heat, cold, wind, mosquitoes, wetlands and outdoor life. This adaptation explains its great hardiness.
The animals mainly live in manades, in pastureland, with limited handling. This type of management helps preserve a lively and wild temperament, which is valued in Camargue tradition.
The breed is closely linked to Camargue racing. In the arenas, the cattle selected for racing are most often castrated males, called bioùs. When they show good ability, they become cocardiers and may continue their racing career until around 14 or 15 years of age, before retiring to the pastures of the manade.
The traditional vocabulary is important: taù refers to the entire breeding male, bioù to the castrated male, cocardier to the bull selected for Camargue racing, and simbeù to a calm bull fitted with a bell, used to help the gardians guide and control the herd.
The Raço di Biòu also contributes to the production of PDO Taureau de Camargue meat, an appellation shared with the Brave breed. Since 2025, this meat has been presented at the Concours Général Agricole during the Paris International Agricultural Show.
Identification hint
Look for a small black cattle breed from the Camargue, lively and hardy, with upward-pointing horns often shaped like a lyre.
Other names
- Common name
- Camargue — France
Institutional references
Official text
Légifrance
- Reference name
- Raço di Biòu (Camargue)
Sources and contributions
Manade de Méjanes
Source title : Document pédagogique
Overview and history · Visual identification · Key facts
Serge Colombaud
Key facts
Profile validations
Défi Bovins
Approved photographs · Approved description