Lapland Cattle

The goal of this project is to combine academic research and development work in order to promote economic activities based on the specialization on Lapland Cattle.

The project will provide new research knowledge and practical know-how on the sustainable and value-added utilization of the Lapland Cattle breed and, as regards to its products, on the nutritional composition and specific properties of milk and meat. This will increase readiness for entrepreneurship in small dairy activities, utilization of meat, marketing of the products of the Lapland Cattle as special local products, and utilization of the breed’s cultural history, farmers’ experiential knowledge and stories in order to make the breed and its products and services better.

The project is aimed at milk and meat producers, farmers utilizing the Lapland Cattle as a breed, tourism entrepreneurs and restaurants, food processing companies, advisory and research institutes and other service providers. Other target groups include consumers and tourists, science centres, museums, associations and educational institutions.

Lapland Cattle (officially called Northern Finncattle) is a local cattle breed which is well adapted to the arctic environment, but whose specificity, adaptability and many outstanding qualities are poorly utilized as compared to what opportunities they offer. At the end of 2020, there were 865 purebred adult Lapland Cattle dairy cows in the whole Finland. The breed is classified as endangered.

Presentation of the Project

Päivi Soppela
Project leader, University Researcher
University of Lapland, Arctic Centre
paivi.soppela(at)ulapland.fi

Anne Tuomivaara
Project Coordinator
University of Lapland, Arctic Centre
anne.tuomivaara(at)ulapland.fi

• the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland (main implementer),
• the Natural Resources Institute Finland (co-implementer) and
• Kemi-Tornionlaakso’s Vocational College Lappia (co-implementer).
  

Funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund ERDF.

Project period: 1.8.2020-31.3.2023.