Any breed or type of grazer that originally belonged in a certain area, is able to naturally graze the landscape. Knowledge about the original distribution of species since the last Ice Age is still expanding. A lot of discussion arises around descendants of the extinct aurochs and the wild horse. All domestic cattle and horse breeds in Europe are ultimately descended from either.

There are still several primitive breeds of horses and cattle to be found in Europe, which by rewilding and de-domestication can develop natural traits within a few generations of reproduction. These traits include the ability to defense themselves against wolves, growing a short summer and thick winter coat, able to use the terrain in a natural way natural and successfully give birth and grow their offspring without interference. These animals would eventually be able to live completely independently and be fully considered 'wild'.

Some breeds descend from just a limited number of founder animals. Because of this, their genetic variation is limited. Throughout Europe, several breeding programs aim to obtain an animal similar to the extinct aurochs, using different founder breeds.

We tend to advise to use different breeds in different places, preferably breeds that originally belong to that local area.