Pembroke cattle
Encyclopedia
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. Pembroke cattle were registered with black cattle from North Wales
in 1904, to create the Welsh Black
breed.
said some had white faces and white about the udder, but this was ascribed to cross-breeding by Read. The horns which at first incline outwards and forwards, and then bend somewhat upwards and inwards, are light coloured with black tips. They were reported to be good milk
producers, with many being sold to London
town dairies. Store cattle of the breed were favoured for grazing in Sussex
and Kent
, especially on the Pevensey Levels
, and many also went to the English Midlands
.
, Carmarthenshire
, and South Cardiganshire
. There were distinct strains in the Castlemartin
area of South Pembrokeshire and the Dewsland
area of north Pembrokeshire. These cattle were locally regarded as hardier on the poor land than English dairy breeds such as the Shorthorn. Both types were later amalgamated into the Welsh Black
breed for which a herdbook was opened in 1874. By the end of the 19th century some 25,000 black cattle from South Wales were being sold to England annually.
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
native to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. A society was formed in 1867 to try and improve the breed, and the first register of Pembroke cattle was published in 1874. Pembroke cattle were registered with black cattle from North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
in 1904, to create the Welsh Black
Welsh Black
The Welsh Black is a dual-purpose breed of cattle native to Wales.-History:Commercial exploitation of the breed meant that drovers would herd them to English markets. Herds from south west Wales travelled towards Hereford and Gloucester up the Tywi Valley to Llandovery. Herds from South...
breed.
Characteristics
Pembroke cattle were described as being coal black. William YouattWilliam Youatt
William Youatt , was an English veterinary surgeon.Youatt was the son of a surgeon residing at Exeter. He was educated for the nonconformist ministry. In 1810 he left Devonshire, and undertook ministerial and scholastic duties in London...
said some had white faces and white about the udder, but this was ascribed to cross-breeding by Read. The horns which at first incline outwards and forwards, and then bend somewhat upwards and inwards, are light coloured with black tips. They were reported to be good 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...
producers, with many being sold to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
town dairies. Store cattle of the breed were favoured for grazing in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, especially on the Pevensey Levels
Pevensey Levels
The area known as the Pevensey Levels is a Site of Special Scientific Interest notified under Section 28 of theWildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an area of marshland situated between Bexhill in the east, Pevensey in the west and Hailsham in the north...
, and many also went to the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
.
History
The ancient breed was indigenous to the old Welsh counties of PembrokeshirePembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, and South Cardiganshire
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
. There were distinct strains in the Castlemartin
Castlemartin
Castlemartin may refer to:*Castlemartin House and Estate, County Kildare, Ireland*Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, a village in Wales*Castlemartin , a former administrative unit in Wales named after the village...
area of South Pembrokeshire and the Dewsland
Dewisland (hundred)
thumb|250px|right|The cantref of Pebidiog in ancient DyfedThe Hundred of Dewisland was a hundred in the north west of Pembrokeshire, Wales...
area of north Pembrokeshire. These cattle were locally regarded as hardier on the poor land than English dairy breeds such as the Shorthorn. Both types were later amalgamated into the Welsh Black
Welsh Black
The Welsh Black is a dual-purpose breed of cattle native to Wales.-History:Commercial exploitation of the breed meant that drovers would herd them to English markets. Herds from south west Wales travelled towards Hereford and Gloucester up the Tywi Valley to Llandovery. Herds from South...
breed for which a herdbook was opened in 1874. By the end of the 19th century some 25,000 black cattle from South Wales were being sold to England annually.