BEEF SHORTHORN HISTORY

Shorthorn, also called Durham, a cattle breed raised for beef. The Shorthorn was developed during the last quarter of the 18th century through selective breeding of local cattle of the Teeswater district, Durham county, in the north of England. It is characterized by short horns, blocky conformation, and colour ranging from red, red with white markings, white, or roan resulting from a mixture of red and white hairs. It is the only roan-coloured modern cattle breed.

Shorthorns are found in practically every country of the world. Shorthorn cattle are also part of beef production in South Africa and developed from Teeswater and Durham cattle in North East England. As seen on The Cattle Site, the brothers Charles and Robert Colling, used line breeding techniques to improve their herd and by 1810, one of their bulls, called Comet, was the first-ever bull to be sold for 1 000 guineas.

In testimony to its excellence, the bull later became a legend in cattle breeding because of the superior progeny Shorthorn cattle produced. The name of the breed refers to the short size of these cattle’s horns.

MORE INFORMATION
  •  Two Hundred Years of Progress
  •  Shorthorn Guide to Profitability
  •  Heritage Shorthorn’s Impact on World Cattle Breeds