KNOW YOUR CATTLE BREEDS

Identify the cows you spot on your walks.

Know your Hereford from your Highland with our ‘Who’s Moo’ of British cattle

ENGLISH LONGHORN

The longhorn is a breed of beef cattle recognised, unsurprisingly, by big long horns. It also sports a brown and white coat. Large in size, it’s a hardy breed considered a good calving cow with a high milk yield.

HIGHLAND

Identified by its long horns and brown wavy coat, this intelligent and gentle Scottish breed was first recorded in the 12th century. Its meat is low in cholesterol as well as being full of flavour.

BRITISH WHITE

Originating from Lancashire in the 17th century, this polled white cow has a docile temperament that makes it easy to handle. It is known for easy calving, efficient rearing and high-quality beef production.

RED POLL

A 19th-century product of crossing the Norfolk Red beef cow with the Suffolk Dun dairy cow. With good maternal qualities and fertility, the russet dual-purpose cows breed well and provide both milk and beef.

AYRSHIRE

Weighing an average of 600kg, this economic dairy cow – named after its area of origin – is white with red or brown patches. It’s known for its good milk (used globally in butter and cheese) and strong stamina.

BELTED GALLOWAY

A polled breed with a thick hairy coat that always features a white stripe around its middle, the cow is well suited for rough grazing lands and is long lived. The beef cattle are finished at 30 months.

WHITE PARK

This very old breed dates to the 13th century and has a distinctive look: a white coat with black speckles and large curved horns. Finished (ready for slaughter) at 30 months, it produces lean meat with little fat.

ABERDEEN ANGUS

A famous beef breed developed in 19th-century Forfarshire, now Angus, this medium, all-black cow is polled (naturally hornless). Good-natured and easy to calve, it’s often used to crossbreed. Its beef is firm and lean.

HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN

With its distinctive black-and-white coat, the world’s most widespread cattle breed – a cross of Holstein and Friesian – is easily identified.

The highest-production dairy animal dominates global milk production.

HEREFORD

Red with a white face and belly, the Hereford is used mainly for meat. Although hardy and strong, the breed is easily handled due to its very docile temperament. Cows can weigh up to 550kg; bulls 850kg.

SOUTH DEVON

Originating in the 16th century from Devon and Cornwall, this light-brown breed with curly coat and forwardset ears has great beef qualities and maternal characteristics. It’s known for fast growth and early maturity.

JERSEY

Known for its rich milk, this small, short-horned cow is the secondlargest dairy cattle breed in the world. It has a docile, pleasant temperament and is usually fawn-coloured but can be darker.