It's hard to get the best of all attributes in a single breed of cattle but Welsh Black cattle come closer than most.

Breed Description:

Welsh Blacks are a true hill country breed, originally dual purpose. They are a naturally horned breed but a number of breeders have developed a polled strain, both types are readily available.

The ideal Welsh Black should have a long, wide and deep body, a straight top line, plenty of bone and covered with a fairly long, thick and mossy, rusty black or black coat. In summer and in hot climates this coat is replaced with a smooth, glossy coat. There is a red factor present in some individuals, these are now eligible for registration. General liveweights on a normal sheep and beef operation are mature cows should weigh 600-800 kg and bulls generally weigh 950-1150 kg however some have tipped the scales as heavy as 1391kg.

Hardiness and Adaptability:

Welsh Black cattle have a history of being raised in harsh, outdoor environments and unimproved pasture. They have retained their ability to convert rough feed into weight gain and a willingness to forage. In a large Southland herd, cows are wintered on tussock with no supplements and also calve there. They have developed a good constitution and freedom from disease, thus enabling drenching of young stock for example to be kept to a minimum.

Mothering Ability & Calving Ease:

Because they are easy calving, almost all Welsh Black calvings are paddock births and no formal birth data is available, but some recorded weights are 33 - 37kg for heifers and with bulls occasionally up to 10kg heavier. Cows have a long, even lactation up to 300 days, typically sacrificing their own condition to continue feeding their calves when conditions are less favourable. Cows have a long productive life of 15 - 20 years. Docility of the breed makes handling relaxed and enhances conception with AI. Calves are vigorous and hardy and do not present feeding problems in dairy operations.

  Find out more about the Welsh Black Cattle Society