Shorthorn

The Shorthorn was developed in the northeast of England, around the valley of the River Tees, and it is one of the foundation breeds of the modern beef industry. Its herd book, opened in 1822, was the first for any breed of cattle anywhere.

They come in red, white and roan, the roan being a genuine mix of red and white hairs rather than a dilution, and it is a colour almost no other breed produces.

What they are known for is temperament and maternal ability. Shorthorn cows are docile, milk well, and are widely used to add both traits to a commercial herd. The carcass marbles.

The trade is that decades as a crossing breed have left a wide range within the registry. There are cattle bred hard for growth and cattle bred for the show ring, and the difference between two Shorthorns can be larger than the difference between two other breeds.