The French Parthenais Herdbook, established in 1893, is one of the oldest in France. Parthenais were originally a three-fold use breed, used for oxen , meat and milk. The first embryos were imported to Canada in 1991.
Animals have an excellent rate of gain and have high cutability carcass qualities.
They are very docile and cross well with other breeds. They are also a heavily muscled breed. The breed belongs to a group of cattle indigenous to Austria and first arrived in Canada in the early 1970s. In Austria, they are used for both milk and meat. In Canada, they are used strictly as beef cattle.