Traditional Hereford 2008

This is the official site of the Traditional Hereford Breeders Club of the United Kingdom. For information you can find all the right people in our contact section including our Secretar, David Fenton and the Chairman, David Powell.

Our new URL is www.traditionalherefords.org although you can still reach us on www.traditional-herefords.co.uk

The club is dedicated to the preservation of the last 200 years of British families of Hereford Cattle, including all of the distinctive features and conformation which have made the Hereford the supreme breed for economy in Grazing and feeding.

These animals are bred for specialist beef markets and command much higher prices than the crossing cattle designed for the supermarket. A great number of our breeders now market the final product direct to the end customers who demand a high quality product with traceability of the Farm, the Breeding and the Production.

We welcome all breeders and potential breeders of Hereford Cattle to our site and hope you will find it both interesting and informative.

Meetings for 2008

2008 AGM
Our first meeting of the year is at Hereford House on Wednesday 5th March at 11.00 am, and all are welcome.

2008 Traditional Hereford show
Our main show takes place at the Three Counties show ground on Sunday 15th June

2008 Hereford farm visit
The 2008 open day will be at the Dornley herd of Keith Siddorn Meadow Bank on Wednesday 18th June. Keith has nearly 200 traditional Herefords and is one of the largest herds of pedigree Herefords in the country. This is s true beef herd with a direct sales business to the end user with a guaranteed beef from grass strategy.

Meadow Bank farm is in Broxton, Near Chester, Cheshire - Post code CH3 9JS

For further information and booking please call any of the official contacts or direct with Keith on 01829 782117

Traditional Hereford introduction

The Traditional Hereford was carefully nurtured and developed by a group of skilled and eminent breeders in Herefordshire 250 years ago and are so firmly fixed that their transmission from one generation to another can always be relied upon. It was this selection process in Herefordshire and the surrounding Counties, which created the ideal grazing animal.

The Traditional Hereford has no imported bloodlines and follows strict adherence to quality and conformation of the original Hereford standards.

Traditional Breeders rely upon their knowledge of the performance of past generations of stock whilst always being aware that the commercial market and tastes change. The continuous use of stock of known ancestry has enabled them to maintain the essential characteristics of the breed and to meet the challenges of modern beef production.

Traditional Herefords:

• are hardy, early maturing and a matchless forager with easy calving
• have excellent mothering qualities and produces good quantities of high butterfat milk
• convert grass and grass products to beef efficiently and economically
• are docile and easy to manage
• produce more valuable meat per acre of grassland than any other

Report on - Traditional Herefords at Three Counties Show
June 17th 2007

The Malvern Hills were an ideal backdrop for the National Rare and Minority breeds show at the Three Counties Showground. Heavy rain earlier in the week had turned the ring into a mud bath which was soon rectified by the arrival of several bales of dry straw.

Our judge for 2007 was Mrs Hazel Timmis a well known breeder of Hereford cattle from Shropshire. Hazel's pedigree is as impeccable as the Traditional Herefords on show. Her Father Roger Everall owned the Shraden herd and her uncles owned Sherlowe and Shrine.

The senior bull class saw the young bull Albany Leonard take the honours from senior bull Heritage Benjamin and another youngster Shefford Andrew. All the Bulls looked well and behaved impeccably.

The Junior Bulls were headed by Llandinabo Genius, a well made animal by Heritage Nathan. Nathan was purchased from the dispersal sale of Mrs Wendy Thomson by Peter Symonds and is now residing with Keith Siddorn in Cheshire.

Keith Siddorn again produced a grand crop of females with accompanying calves. The students from Keith's local agricultural college had made a big effort in preparing the stock and patience in their training paid off with home bred Dorney Gaymaid winning the class.

The junior classes were dominated by Leslie Cooke, with his Albany Ladybird winning the two year old class and Albany Prettymaid 16th winning the yearling class. A hat trick of winners made the trip from Cambridgeshire worthwhile.

Overall Champion winner was the outstanding young Bull Llandinabo Genius with the reserve and Champion Female going to Dorney Gaymaid. Llandinabo Genius and Gaymaid 81st went on to win the new 'pairs' class which was well supported by all exhibitors.

Key elements of a Traditional Hereford

All ancestors in English Herd Book
Concentration of best English Hereford lines including

• Torrington
• Haven
• Atok
• Vern
• Sherlowe

Early maturing grass fed cattle
Ideal finishing weights of 500 to 600 kilograms
Perfect size for handling

The Traditional Hereford has no imported bloodlines and follows strict adherence to quality and conformation of the original Hereford standards.

Traditional Breeders rely upon their knowledge of the performance of past generations of stock whilst always being aware that the commercial market and tastes change. The continuous use of stock of known ancestry has enabled them to maintain the essential characteristics of the breed and to meet the challenges of modern beef production.

Traditional Herefords:

• are hardy, early maturing and a matchless forager with easy calving
• have excellent mothering qualities and produces good quantities of high butterfat milk
• convert grass and grass products to beef efficiently and economically
• are docile and easy to manage
• produce more valuable meat per acre of grassland than any other