Hereford (cattle)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hereford cattle are a widely used breed in temperate areas, mainly for beef production.
Originally from Herefordshire, England [1], they are found in the temperate parts of Australia as well as in the centre and east of Argentina, in Uruguay, and New Zealand, where they make up the largest percentage of registered cows.[2] They have also found great popularity among ranchers of the American Southwest, testament to the hardiness of the breed; while originating in cool, moist Britain, they have proven to thrive in much harsher climates on nearly every continent.
Hornless variants with the polled gene are known as the Polled Herefords. Breeding horned and hornless together functions as a genetic dehorner. This is often used as an alternative to a dehorning process, which causes stress and often weight loss.
Closely related to the Miniature Hereford, the breed is known for its high-quality meat and its excellent maternal[citation needed] qualities.
The World Hereford Council is based in the United Kingdom; the Secretary General, Mrs. Jan Wills, is from New Zealand. There are currently 19 member countries with 20 Hereford societies and 7 non-member countries with a total of eight societies.
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[edit] Hereford history
The Hereford breed originated in Great Britain perhaps as early as the 17th century and is still to be seen in the Herefordshire countryside today[3] and feature very prominently at agricultural shows[4][5][6]. It was first raised in the United States by politician Henry Clay.
[edit] Polled Hereford
The Polled Hereford is a hornlesss direct relative of the Hereford, a natural genetic mutation that evolved into its own breed.
Iowa cattle rancher Warren Gammon capitalized on the idea of breeding Polled Hereford and started the Polled Hereford registry with eleven naturally hornless cattle. Today, the Polled Hereford and Hereford breed has been combined under the same American Hereford Association name.
The Polled Hereford breed is bred for its deep fore-quarters, depth and muscling, docile temperament, fast growing calves, and good quality of beef.
[edit] References
- ^ Breeds of Livestock - Cattle. Retrieved 22, April 2008.
- ^ Beef New Zealand. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5709
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216192
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216196
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216200
[edit] External links
- World Hereford Council
- American Hereford Association
- Australian Hereford Society
- Canadian Hereford Association
- Irish Hereford Society
- List of Hereford Associations
- New Zealand Hereford Association
- UK Hereford Society
- Polled Hereford Breed Information - Cattle.com
- American Hereford Association
- The Origin and Growth of Polled Herefords - Oklahoma State University
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