Glamorgan cattle
Encyclopedia
Sedlescombe
Sedlescombe is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. The village is located north of Hastings.The parish lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The River Brede and its tributary the River Line flow through it; and Powdermill Reservoir is...
, near Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, decided to sell his cattle herd which he claimed included Glamorgan cattle, Pembroke cattle
Pembroke cattle
Pembroke cattle were a breed of dual-purpose short-legged, hardy, black cattle native to Wales. A society was formed in 1867 to try and improve the breed, and the first register of Pembroke cattle was published in 1874...
and Gloucester cattle
Gloucester cattle
Gloucester cattle are a breed of dairy and beef cattle originating from Gloucestershire and surrounding areas in the West Country of England.- Description :...
. He first offered his cattle to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a conservation charity, whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources...
, but the Trust decided not to buy them as there was no documentation to confirm the origins of the Glamorgan cattle and the Pembroke cattle. The (purported) Pembroke cattle were sold in a local market but have subsequently disappeared. However, West Glamorgan County Council
West Glamorgan
West Glamorgan is a preserved county and former administrative county of Wales, one of the divisions of the ancient county of Glamorgan.West Glamorgan was created on 1 April 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972 from the county borough of Swansea, the municipal boroughs of Neath and Port Talbot,...
learnt of the sale and purchased the Glamorgans and brought them to Margam Country Park
Margam Country Park
Margam Country Park is a country park estate in Britain, of around 850 acres . It is situated in Margam, about 2 miles from Port Talbot in south Wales it was once owned by the Mansel Talbot family and is now owned and administered by the local council, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council...
in an attempt to ensure the survival of the breed. The herd remains strong and over 200 animals have been bred to date.
Glamorgan cattle are similar in colour to the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Pinzgau cattle
Pinzgau Cattle
Pinzgauer Cattle are a dual purpose cattle breed from the Pinzgau region of the federal state of Salzburg in Austria. They are distinctively coloured, with chestnut brown sides and white back and underside. They can be naturally polled...
, although it is not clear whether there is any relationship. Nevertheless, Margam Country Park bought a Pinzgau bull
Pinzgau Cattle
Pinzgauer Cattle are a dual purpose cattle breed from the Pinzgau region of the federal state of Salzburg in Austria. They are distinctively coloured, with chestnut brown sides and white back and underside. They can be naturally polled...
in 1994 in order to improve the bloodline. Glamorgan cattle can be recognised by their chestnut coloured coat and broad white stripe along the backbone, down the tail, and under the belly.
Origins and provenence
The breed was once common in the counties of GlamorganGlamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Monmouth
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, and Brecon
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
, but was reputedly only rarely to be seen west of the River Dulais
River Dulais
River Dulais is a river of Wales which has its source at Mynydd y Drum. It joins the River Neath after flowing over Aberdulais Falls.-External links:*...
. The cows were reputed to be very good milkers, producing high butterfat
Butterfat
Butterfat or milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain.- Composition :The fatty acids of butterfat are typically composed as follows :...
milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, and were held in high regard by the English King George III who had a herd of them on his farm in Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. He also used Glamorgan oxen for farm work. The breed was not esteemed for its ability to produce high yields of beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, although it did not lack in quality.
During the nineteenth century it became increasingly common to cross Glamorgan cattle with other breeds such as Hereford cattle, Ayrshire cattle
Ayrshire cattle
The Ayrshire cattle is a breed of dairy cattle originated from Ayrshire in Scotland. The average mature Ayrshire cow weighs 1,000-1,300 pounds . Ayrshires have red markings. The red can be an orange to a dark brown, with or without coloured legs. They are known for low somatic cell counts,...
, and Shorthorn cattle. The crossing improved the beef yield, although some would maintain that this was at the expense of quality.
In time, the breed would almost disappear due to crossbreeding and farmers selling their herds to buy Hereford cattle or Shorthorn cattle. Today a herd can be seen at Margam Country Park in Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
.