Hereford cattle
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Hereford cattle are a Beef cattle breed, widely used both in intemperate areas and temperate areas, mainly for meat production.
Originally from Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom [1][2], more than five million pedigree Hereford Cattle now exist in over 50 countries. The Hereford Cattle export trade began from United Kingdom in 1817 , starting in Kentucky, United States [3], spreading across the United States and Canada through Mexico to the great beef-raising countries of South America. Today, Hereford cattle dominate the world scene from Australasia to the Russian steppes. Hereford Cattle can be found in Israel, Japan and throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia. [4]
They are found in the intemperate parts of Canada, United States and Russia as well as the temperate parts of Australia as well as in the centre and east of Argentina, in Uruguay, and New Zealand, where they make up the largest percentage of registered cows.[5] They originally found great popularity among ranchers of the American Southwest, testament to the hardiness of the breed; while originating in cool, moist Britain, they have proven to thrive in much harsher climates on nearly every continent.
The World Hereford Council [6] is based in the United Kingdom; the Secretary General, Mrs. Jan Wills, is from New Zealand. There are currently 17 member countries with 20 Hereford societies and 10 non-member countries with a total of eight societies. [7] The next World Hereford Council conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 10-15, 2012.
The European Hereford organisation [8] is holding their 2010 conference in Scotland, 23rd to 28th of June. [9]
Hereford history
The Hereford breed originated in Great Britain perhaps as early as the 17th century [10] and is still to be seen in the Herefordshire countryside today[11] and feature very prominently at agricultural shows[12][13][14]. It was first raised in the United States by politician Henry Clay.
Polled Hereford
The Polled Hereford is a hornless variant of the Hereford with the polled gene, a natural genetic mutation that was selected into a separate breed.
Breeding horned and hornless together functions as a genetic dehorner. This is often used as an alternative to a dehorning process, which causes stress and often weight loss. [citation needed]
Iowa cattle rancher Warren Gammon capitalized on the idea of breeding Polled Hereford and started the Polled Hereford registry with eleven naturally hornless cattle. Today, in the United States the American Polled Hereford and American Hereford breed has been combined under the same American Hereford Association name.
The Polled Hereford breed is bred for its deep fore-quarters, depth and muscling, docile temperament, fast growing calves, and good quality of beef. [citation needed] Hereford cattle are also know to be easy breeders and easy calvers.[citation needed]
Eye cancer (ocular squamous cell carcinoma) occurs in Herefords in particular in countries with continued bright sunlight and those that prefer traits of high levels of red pigmentation around the eye. [15] [16][17] Studies have been made into eye cancer in Hereford cattle in the US and Canada and it was found that lid and corneoscleral pigment were heritable and likely to increase the risk of cancer.[18] Vaginal prolapse is considered a heritable problem in Hereford cattle, but it may also be influenced by nutrition.[19] [20]
References
- ^ Breeds of Livestock - Cattle. Retrieved 22, April 2008.
- ^ Sanders, Alvin H. (1914). The Story Of The Herefords: An Account Of The Origin And Development Of The Breed. Chicago: Sanders Publishing Company.
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- ^ [2]
- ^ Beef New Zealand. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5709
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216192
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216196
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216200
- ^ http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/7/4/426
- ^ The Hereditary Aspect of Eye Cancer in Hereford Cattle Retrieved 2010-3-13
- ^ DPI: Eye Cancer in Cattle Retrieved 2009-2-13
- ^ Genetic Study of Eye Cancer in Cattle by D. E. Anderson Retrieved 2010-3-13
- ^ A Study of Vaginal and Uterine Prolapse in Hereford Cattle Retrieved 2009-12-22
- ^ 81st Western Veterinary Conference: Medical and Surgical Management of Vaginal Prolapse in Cattle Retrieved 2009-12-22
External Associations and Society links
- World Hereford Council
- American Hereford Association
- Australian Hereford Society
- Canadian Hereford Association
- Irish Hereford Breed Society
- New Zealand Hereford Association
- UK Hereford Society
- List of US State/National Hereford Associations
- List of Other International Hereford Associations
- Polled Hereford Breed Information - Cattle.com
- The Origin and Growth of Polled Herefords - Oklahoma State University