Gloucester cattle are a versatile breed of cattle bred for milk, meat and animal traction.
The breed originated in Gloucestershire and surrounding areas in western England. It was valued for milk production, but now grown for meat.
The breed was also once prized for producing strong and docile draft bulls. Other Gloucester-type cattle breeds were abundant in the Cotswold Hills and Severn Valley of England as early as the 13th century.
By 1972 there was only one significant herd left and the breed was on the verge of extinction.
The Gloucester Cattle Society was resurrected in 1973 and the breed went from near extinction to an “endangered” classification by the Rare Breeds Survival Foundation. And there are still less than 750 registered breeding cows. Learn more about the breed below.
Characteristics of Gloucester Cattle
Gloucester cattle are medium-sized animals with relatively large bodies. They are usually black-brown in color with a white tail, belly, and a white stripe on their back.
Cows, calves and bulls are dark brown, while bulls are almost black. The animals have a finch-like white stripe along the spine and continues down the tail.
Bulls and horns usually have horns. Their horns are beautiful, wide, curved upwards, usually well developed, white with black tips. Their head and legs are black.
They have a dark muzzle with dark skin around the eyes and nose. Cows weigh on average about 500 kg. And the average live weight of adult bulls is about 750 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
Gloucester cattle are versatile animals. Previously, the breed was mainly used for milk production. But now it is also grown for meat production. The breed is also very good for draft purposes.
Special Notes
Gloucester cattle are hardy and active animals. They are relatively docile in temperament and the bulls are very good for drafting.
They are malleable and lend themselves well to individual care. Cows are very good milkers and their milk lends itself well to cheese making. Their milk is rich in protein and fat.
The breed is also very good at producing a quality lean carcass with just enough fat marbling in the meat to give it a good flavor.
The breed grows relatively slower, but produces fine-grained marbled beef with great flavor. See the complete breed profile of Gloucester cattle in the following table.
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| Breed name | Gloucester | |
| another name | everything | |
| Purpose of the breed | Milk, meat and pressure | |
| Special Notes | Very hardy, active, well adapted to the natural climate, good milking, relatively slow growth, good quality meat, suitable for traction. | |
| Breed size | medium | |
| Bulls | About 750kg | |
| cows | About 500kg | |
| climatic tolerance | native climate | |
| coat color | It is usually black-brown in color with a white tail, belly, and a white stripe on its back. | |
| horned | Yes | |
| milk production | Good | |
| scarcity | general | |
| Country/place of origin | England |
