Hereford (cattle)

Hereford (cattle), medium-framed breed of cattle that is the most widely distributed beef type in the world.

Descended from cattle that had been prevalent in Herefordshire, western England, for centuries, the breed was developed in 1742 by Benjamin Tomkins who introduced cattle from Flanders. Originally the Hereford was a heavy draught animal, but selective breeding for early maturity reduced the frame and created a hardy beef animal. The meat is low in fat. In the United States it has largely supplanted its predecessor on the plains, the bison, and in Canada no other breed can survive as well feeding on grass in sub-zero temperatures.

The colour is red except for the face, brisket, underbelly, lower legs, and a stripe along the withers, which are white. The face is woolly. The forequarters are well developed and the brisket is deep. The legs are short. Most are horned, but polled (born without horns) strains exist in Britain and North America. The bull grows up to 1.4 m (4 ft 8 in) in height at the shoulder and weighs from 800 to 900 kg (1,760 to 1,980 lb). The cow grows up to 1.35 m (4 ft 6 in) and can weigh between 500 to 600 kg (1,100 to 1,320 lb).