Beef Shorthorn

The Shorthorn breed of cattle, which we know today, has evolved over the last two centuries, from Teeswater and Durham cattle found originally in the North East of England. In the late 18th Century two brothers, Charles and Robert Colling started to improve these Durham cattle using line breeding techniques established so successfully by Robert Bakewell on Longhorn cattle. In 1783 Charles Colling found four particular cows recorded as Duchess, Cherry, Strawberry, and Old Favourite among others, and at the same time his brother Robert had noticed the superiority of calves in the local market bred from a bull known as Hubback, which he subsequently bought for £8.

It was a combination of these bloodlines, which led to the birth of the bull Comet bred by Charles Colling in 1804, and later sold at the Ketton sale in 1810 for 1,000gns. This was the first 1,000 guinea bull ever recorded, but the wisdom of this bid was later to be justified by his progeny and he has since become a legend in cattle breeding.

Other outstanding breeders at this time, Thomas Bates of Kirklevington, and John Booth of Killesby were developing the Teeswater cattle, and their names and fame live on today. The Bates strains were subsequently developed for their milking qualities, whereas the Booth families were developed for their beef qualities. Both were convinced of the value of inbreeding or line breeding to a degree previously considered unacceptable in cattle breeding.    more...

Upcoming Beef Shorthorn Cattle Shows and Events

103rd National Western Stock Show 2009
     Location: National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver, CO 80216, USA
     When: Saturday 10th to Sunday 25th January 2009

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Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
     Location: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
     When: Friday 16th to Sunday 08th February 2009

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Iowa Beef Expo
     Location: State Fairgrounds - Des Moines, IA, USA
     When: Sunday 08th to Sunday 15th February 2009

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Upcoming Beef Shorthorn Cattle Sales / Auctions

Perth Spring Pedigree Beef Week
     Location: United Auctions, Perth Agricultural Centre, Huntingtower Park, Perth, PH1 3JJ
     When: Monday 02nd to Wednesday 04th February 2009

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Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
     Location: Houston, Texas, United States
     When: Tuesday 03rd to Sunday 22nd March 2009

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Beef Australia 2009
     Location: Rockhampton, Queensland
     When: Monday 04th to Saturday 09th May 2009

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Latest Beef Shorthorn Breed News

Friday, August 03, 2007
Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in cattle, in Surrey, UK
UK - DEFRA have confirmed that following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease on a holding near Guildford in Surrey,...

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Shorthorn bull sells for $26,000 at Beef Expo
US - The storm that blew in and out of Iowa didn't do much to slow the enthusiasm at last week's Iowa Beef Expo held on the Iowa...

More News...

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