Hereford
It is generally agreed that the Hereford cattle was founded on the draught ox descended from the small red cattle of Roman Britain as well as from a large Welsh breed. The name Hereford came from an agricultural county of England called Herefordshire where the breed has evolved.
The origins of the Hereford cattle in the county of Herefordshire have been mentioned by many agricultural authors as early as 1600's. There are also documented records of the breed by individuals living in Herefordshire during the 1700's and 1800's. Early Hereford breeders chose to breed the Herefords due to their high yield of beef as well as efficiency of production.
Herefords in the 1700's and 1800's in England were much larger compared to today. Many of the Herefords weigh 3,000 pounds and above. However, the type and conformation gradually changed to less extreme size and weight in order to get more smoothness, quality, and efficiency.
Characteristics
The Hereford cattle have a body colour of dark red to red-yellow with a white face. It is also common to have white flanks and white markings below the animal's knee. They typically have short thick horns and curves down at the sides of the head.
The mature male Hereford cattle can weigh up to 1,800 pounds while the female cattle may weigh up to 1,200 pounds. They are usually very muscular, rather large in size, trim and smooth. They are also very well developed in the regions of valuable cuts
These cattle are known for their foraging ability as well as for their longevity. It is common for the female breed to live beyond age of 15 years and still produce calves. On the other hand, the bulls are capable of remaining profitable up to age of 12 years.
They are also a very resilient animal as they are able to endure high temperatures environment and withstand tough climate and continue to thrive.
Benefits
Able to command premium price on the market
High % of calf crops
Low labour costs
Easy of management
Early maturity and longevity
High quality meat