A propos de la corpulence des bovins en France durant les périodes historiques

Variations of the bovine size are examined from the Roman Conquest to the XVIIIth century in France, through a large census of osteometric data concerning the metatarsus. Results of the diachronic observations of the raw measures lead us to consider the biologic and breeding mechanisms before finding the socio-economic reasons of these variations. The hypothesis which suggests the import of large Roman bovines from Rome or another Italian centre, the presence of a little bovine during the Middle Ages who has growed up during the Renaissance, are confronted to results of this census which constitutes in himself a novelty for France.