Northern Dairy Shorthorns

The Northern Dairy Shorthorn
Why is this such a rare breed? This breed is descended from an admixture of cattle of Dutch and Viking descent, found in the Teeswater Valley and surrounding dales in the north of England. It is a hardy hill breed of cattle capable of outwintering and producing a good milk yield and a prime carcass from hay and grass. It fell out of favour in the 1950 s when the drive was for the maximum production of food and energy was cheap. Farmers went into high milk yielding breeds, feeding lots of concentrates for maximum production. After the ravages of BSE and Foot and mouth, by 2007, there were only 52 breeding females left in the world. Our practice supports the recovery of this critically endangered breed of cattle primarily because we feel that the qualities of the breed will be useful in a low carbon future and partly because we enjoy looking after cattle. Whilst there is a lot more research and recording to do the breed is still able to produce between 4000 and 6000 litres of milk with minimal input. Because it is long lived and suffers few medical problems, this breed could contribute significantly in the future to raising welfare standards in the UK cattle industry. A small group of 4 breeders, locally, together with other breeders in other parts of the country increased the 2007 numbers to 75 females of all ages. The Embryo Transfer Project So few cattle could easily have succumbed to an outbreak of foot and mouth or TB. Charles has therefore initiated and designed the embryo transfer project. Ovulating females were inseminated either natuarally by NDS bulls or by AI resulting in the genetically best outcome. Thus the number of females has increased to 75 and inbreeding has been avoided. We look forward to the next phase of marketing the milk products from these lovely native cattle. The RBST has supported this project from the outset and you can read more in their latest magazine, The Ark.

The Northern Dairy Shorthorn

Why is this such a rare breed?

This breed is descended from an admixture of cattle of Dutch and Viking descent, found in the Teeswater Valley and surrounding dales in the north of England. It is a hardy hill breed of cattle capable of outwintering and producing a good milk yield and a prime carcass from hay and grass.

It fell out of favour in the 1950 s when the drive was for the maximum production of food and energy was cheap. Farmers went into high milk yielding breeds, feeding lots of concentrates for maximum production. After the ravages of BSE and Foot and mouth, by 2007, there were only 52 breeding females left in the world.

Our practice supports the recovery of this critically endangered breed of cattle primarily because we feel that the qualities of the breed will be useful in a low carbon future and partly because we enjoy looking after cattle. Whilst there is a lot more research and recording to do the breed is still able to produce between 4000 and 6000 litres of milk with minimal input.

Because it is long lived and suffers few medical problems, this breed could contribute significantly in the future to raising welfare standards in the UK cattle industry.

A small group of 4 breeders, locally, together with other breeders in other parts of the country increased the 2007 numbers to 75 females of all ages.

The Embryo Transfer Project

So few cattle could easily have succumbed to an outbreak of foot and mouth or TB. Charles has therefore initiated and designed the embryo transfer project. Ovulating females were inseminated either natuarally by NDS bulls or by AI resulting in the genetically best outcome. Thus the number of females has increased to 75 and inbreeding has been avoided. We look forward to the next phase of marketing the milk products from these lovely native cattle.

The RBST has supported this project from the outset and you can read more in their latest magazine, The Ark.


Bradden Bleathghyll Jill is now a frontpage star! She appears on the front cover of the summer edition of the RBST magazine, The ARK. see www.rbst.org.uk

Bradden Bleathghyll Jill is now a frontpage star! She appears on the front cover of the summer edition of the RBST magazine, The ARK. see www.rbst.org.uk


Charles feeding Cannsmill Melony - with Lowlands Melony also extremely interested!

Charles feeding Cannsmill Melony - with Lowlands Melony also extremely interested!