Welsh Black

The Welsh Black is a native British breed descended from cattle of Pre-Roman Britain in the rough mountain and hill country of Wales. There is evidence that the breed, or its forerunners, existed in Roman times and it has been suggested that the breed is based on cattle from the Iberian Peninsula.

Certainly black cattle have been bred in Wales for well over 1,000 years and, as in Scotland and many other parts of Britain, were often used as currency. This gave rise to the description of the Welsh Black as "the black gold from the Welsh hills".

Up until the early 1970s the Welsh Black was regarded as a dual purpose breed for both dairy and beef production. There were two distinct strains of the breed; the stocky North Wales beef type and the more dairy like South Wales or Castlemartin animal.

The successful intermingling of these types over the past 90 years has resulted in an optimum sized animal with an emphasis on beef production. The unique traits of the breed are a result of this heredity and environment.   more...

Upcoming Welsh Black Cattle Shows and Events

The Royal Highland Show
     Location: Royal Highland Show Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB
     When: Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th June 2009

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The Royal Show
     Location: Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, UK, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
     When: Tuesday 07th to Friday 10th July 2009

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The Royal Welsh Show
     Location: Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales, LD2 3SY, Powys, United Kingdom
     When: Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd July 2009

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Latest Welsh Black Breed News

Friday, September 28, 2007
Confidence in future of Welsh Blacks, after a decade of both ups and downs
UK - With the weather hitting the shows hard and then a double wave of foot-and-mouth restrictions seriously disrupting the sales...

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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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Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Regulations blow to National Trust's Welsh Black farming initiative
UK - THE National Trust is seeing red because its attempts at green farming with Welsh Black cattle are being hampered by reg...

More News...

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