© Hereford Traditional Cattle Breeders Club Maintained by Local PC Care
Traditional Hereford Bull Breed Points
The animal should have a white head and a white crest, white dewlap and throat and white underside white socks and white brush to the tail. The rest should be a deep rich red colour.
Bulls when fully grown are around 55 inches in height; cows are slightly smaller at around 50 to 53 inches. The ideal termination weight for the quality market is between 500 and 550 Kilograms, which can be met with steers of between 18 and 24 months. Keeping Herefords can be a rewarding business and a pleasant pastime. Our members' herds vary in size from a few cows to more than 100.
IN JUDGING A HEREFORD THE GOOD JUDGE WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN HIS MIND'S EYE A PICTURE OF THE PERFECT ANIMAL.
HE WILL ATTEMPT TO ASSESS ITS FEATURES AGAINST THIS IDEAL.
THE BASIS OF HIS JUDGEMENT WILL BE TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS POINTS INDICATED IN THE DIAGRAM, ALWAYS WITH THE ULTIMATE OBJECT IN VIEW OF SUMMING UP THE ANIMAL AS A WHOLE.
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MUZZLE |
broad: clean, fresh, dewy pink nose |
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HEAD |
white: forehead broad: short from muzzle to eye. |
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EYES |
bold, clear, alert and set well apart. |
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HORN |
flat and of yellow waxy texture, slightly turned down, any black being undesirable. |
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SHOULDER |
well laid in with tips of blades set well apart but not prominent, and covered with flesh. |
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NECK |
medium length, and set well into body, with a prominent white crest. |
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RIB |
well sprung. |
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BACK |
broad with level top line throughout; loins wide and well covered with flesh. |
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TAIL |
head set flush with top line, with good width over rump. |
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QUARTER |
wide, deep, and well filled out, well let down between hind legs. |
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TAIL |
thick and hanging straight to the hocks with white brush. |
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HIND LEGS |
straight and set well apart with strong hocks. |
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BONE |
strong, flat and well developed |
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SECOND |
or outside thigh well developed, with meat carried right down to the hocks. |
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UNDERLINE |
level, with flank well let down and white belly. |
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BODY |
deep and well coupled together; evenly proportioned between fore, middle and hindquarters;
firmly and well fleshed with hip bones not prominent; skin soft and mellow to the
touch, carrying a coat of silky hair - |
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FETLOCK |
strong; feet well shaped and adequate to carry the great weight of the animal. |
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FRONT LEGS |
straight, short, and set well apart, with width and depth. Well developed fore arm. |
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