The Buša or Busha is a breed or group of breeds of small short-horned cattle distributed in south-eastern Europe, principally in Albania and the countries of the former Yugoslavia – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Related breeds include the Gurgucke, Lekbibaj and Prespa of Albania, the Gacko of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Greek Shorthorn, the Metohija Red of Kosovo and the Rhodope Shorthorn of Bulgaria. History The Buša is a traditional breed or group of breeds of Albania and the countries of the former Yugoslavia – Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. It forms part of a larger group of related breeds including the Gurgucke, Lekbibaj and Prespa of Albania, the Gacko or Gatacko of Bosnia and Herzegovina (after the Gatačko Polje), the Greek Shorthorn, the Metohija Red of Kosovo and the Rodopi of Bulgaria. The Anatolian Black of Turkey is also related, but more distantly, as it has some zebuine heritage. From the early twentieth century to the time of the Second World War, the Croatian Busa was cross-bred with bulls of the Austrian Montafon and Tyrolean Grey breeds. Characteristics The Busha is distributed throughout the Balkan Peninsula; names, sizes, colours and characteristics vary from country to country within that region. In general terms, the cattle weigh some , stand some at the withers, and are reared in mountainous areas. Characteristics and data for the regional variants are: Y-chromosomal microsatellite data for the Busha shows it to be related to the Simmental and the cattle of Italy, and also to the Red Gorbatov and Yurino of Central Asia. Until the middle of the 20th century, Buša cattle were the dominant cattle of the inhabitants of the wider area of the Balkans, and spread south of the Sava and Danube rivers, from Avala to Olympus and from the Rhodope to the Velebit. Buša cattle were raised together with sheep and goats in the mountainous regions in an extensive (primitive) way. There was less work and care around them than around sheep. Buša cattle were kept on pasture and in the bush, and in some regions they were kept in free grazing both in winter and summer. Cattle tolerated poor food and accommodation. They were kept in uncovered pens, and in winter in places sheltered from the wind. Cheese , cream and butter were made from cow's and sheep's milk. Buša gives quality whole milk. The