Fleckvieh Cattle, Bull (Farm World by Schleich)

Growing up on a cattle farm there was one piece of advice I always heeded and never questioned, beware of the bull. While the cows were typically approachable and docile the bull was the polar opposite of that. A hulking, testosterone infused beast, the mere presence of the bull was intimidating enough to keep you at bay, no cautionary advice needed. Today’s review covers a figure that nicely illustrates the intimidating presence of the bull, it’s the fleckvieh bull by Schleich.

The Schleich fleckvieh bull is a retired figure, released in 2000 and retired in 2009. It is also a repaint of the Schleich brown and white bull which was released in 1996 and retired in 1999. As such, the fleckvieh bull is stamped 1995 on the bottom. The fleckvieh bull has brown ears while the brown and white bull doesn’t. The distribution of the brown coloration differs slightly among the two also.

Fleckvieh cattle are a dual-purpose breed, bred for both meat and milk. They are derived from Simmental cattle that were imported to Germany around 1830 and cross-bred with the local cattle there. The only figures that represent the breed are all by Schleich, they include this bull, a cow, calf, juvenile bull, and grazing cow, all released and retired at the same time. Although these represent the only figures of the breed there is an abundance of Simmental cattle figures with those by Mojo and Papo still in production.

Fleckvieh bulls have a shoulder height of 59-64” (150-165 cm) and can weigh 2,435-2,866 lbs. (1,100-1,300 kg). The Schleich fleckvieh bull measures 5” (12.7 cm) long and stands 3” (7.62 cm) tall at the shoulder. This puts the figure at 1/20 in scale.

The Schleich fleckvieh bull is a massively built figure with a bulging thick neck and crest, wide, barrel-shaped torso, and prominent, wrinkled dewlap. The toy’s mold may be 27 years old but in conveying the bulk that a bull can achieve it’s one of the best figures I’ve ever seen.

The fleckvieh breed can be either horned or hornless (polled) and horns have been included here. The face is detailed with thick skin folds and short, curly hair around the face and neck. Tufts of hair are sculpted on the ears as well.

The body is mostly smoothed over but muscle definition is present where appropriate without being overdone. Veins are nicely sculpted along the legs and torso. The legs themselves convey a lot of strength and power, being nicely muscled with skin folds sculpted around the elbows. He’s a big animal, but he can move quickly if he must.

The figure has a pied red and white coloration, although the breed can also be entirely red. My copy has a yellowish stain over most of the body, but I think that’s due to its age and the condition it was kept in prior to my ownership of it. Pictures of the toy online appear to show a crisper white color. The hooves have a light brown wash over them that moves up the legs, giving them a dirty appearance. The horns are grey, eyes black, and muzzle faint pink. The eyes and muzzle have a shiny finish applied to them.

For cattle collectors looking to diversify their breed assortment, the fleckvieh bull and/or cow are the only options out there for this breed and well worth seeking out. This figure has been retired for 13 years now but is common on eBay for under $20. Now, seeing as how I’ve reviewed three bulls, I suppose it’s time to switch gears and focus on some cows, next time.