British Longhorns

A busy, busy day today. I watched a perfect winter sunrise as I was driving Alex to his work placement at Orton Pit, where he was going to spend the day raking reeds. Pete and I then took the dogs for a frosty bounce round Southey Wood before dropping in at the Willow Brook Farm Shop to order our Christmas turkey.

This has become something of a tradition. and I always wish I could make the time to buy all my meat there - you can chat to the butchers, and there is always plenty of friendly banter. We came away with a freshly baked pork pie, which tasted nothing like the synthetic ones available in most supermarkets. As we headed back to the car I spotted these beautiful Longhorn cattle grazing in the winter sunshine. As soon as I got my camera out they all posed beautifully - the stockman said they loved having their photographs taken!

The English Longhorn is regarded as the oldest pure breed of cattle in England.
It originated in northwest and central England and Ireland and its history is linked to that of the great livestock pioneer of the 1700's, Robert Bakewell. He took and improved the breed in the 1700's, probably crossing local cattle with Lincoln Cattle. Known at various points in history as Dishley, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, the English Longhorn was widely popular until the mid 1800's when farmers and drovers favoured the new Shorthorn cattle.

It came close to extinction in the middle years of the twentieth century, thanks to more intensive methods of cattle production. However, it's an excellent breed for extensive grazing systems, producing quality, healthy beef from grass and i's often used to graze sites of conservation value. Locally there's a large herd grazing an area of wood-pasture at Milton Park, which is where these five originated, and I have seen them grazing species-rich limestone grassland.

Along with Highland cattle and Belted Galloways, these are my favourite cattle. They are massive and can appear intimidating, especially with their extra-long, typically down-curving, horns. But they are invariably good natured and make excellent suckler cows. They come in a variety of colours, but locally they are usually a rich chestnut-brown often brindled or blotched, frequently with white on the legs, chest and flanks, and a characteristic white stripe or "finching" down its back.

After we got home I defrosted the freezer, painted the coving, put a second coat of paint on two walls, filled a few more holes and finished a report. Not a bad day, all in all!

PS Many thanks for all the lovely comments on our little Speckled Hen - I think she might deserve some extra treats!