We chose Traditional Hereford cattle mainly because of their docile temperaments, ease of management and their ability to survive and grow on poor quality forage with no concentrate feed or grain. They are identified by an asterisk at the end of their registered name [*] which means their ancestry can be traced to the original herdbook in 1878 and carry no imported bloodlines. They are the true autochthonous British native Hereford, completely genetically distinct from the North American polled and horned Hereford. They are horned but males are usually dehorned at birth. They produce very high quality well marbled beef without excessive amounts of fat. Our initial breeding stock was purchased in Berkshire in southern England and the herd is closed for biosecurity reasons. Female families are very important in the breed as the genetic diversity is in the female lines. We started with cattle of five female lines, Model, Julia, Curly, Silver and Gaymaid. At one time there were over 40 female families in the breed. Now there are only 20 and several have very small numbers. One family only has one cow left alive. New bloodlines are introduced by artificial insemination but we do keep the best males as bulls for our own use and these will occasionally be for sale. Because they are a rare breed the heifers are usually kept for breeding and the castrated males, or steers, are taken to our local abattoir about 12 miles away. Carcass weight varies according to bloodlines but averages between 270-300kg DW, grading O+ or R, 4L or H. Beef is sold in 10kg mixed boxes, vacuum packed by our butcher therefore we do not handle the meat, just distribute it. We joined the Pasture for Life organisation because the management of the cattle matched what we were doing anyway. Animal welfare is extremely important to us and our cattle have as good a life as we can give them before going on their final journey.