The origin of theHereford is lost in the mists of time but it is generally agreed that it was founded on thedraught ox descended from the small red cattle of Roman Briton and from a large Welsh breed once numerous along the border of England and Wales. The origins of a special breed of cattle in the County of Herefordshire have been mentioned by various agricultural authors as long ago as the early 1600's. During the 1700's and early 1800's documented records of the breed were maintained by various individuals in and around the Herefordshire area, leading to the publication of the First Herd Book of Hereford Cattle in 1846 by Thomas Eyton of Wellington, Shropshire. This First Herd Book contained the records of 551 Bulls entered by 75 Breeders.

Because of its performance as a crossing sire on commercial cattle and indigenous breeds in many countries, the impact of the Hereford on world beef production has been profound. This widespread popularity could only have come about because farmers, ranchers and feeders found the Hereford to be consistently profitable under a wide range of climates and conditions. Herefords will stand out in the arctic snows of Finland, endure the heat of Northern Transvaal, withstand the tough climate and rough grazing of northern Uruguay or the sub-tropical zones of Brazil and continue to thrive.

More than five million pedigree Herefords exist in over 50 countries. The export of Herefords began in 1817, spreading across the United States and Canada through Mexico to the great beef-raising countries of South America. Today, Herefords dominate the world scene from the prairies to the pampas and from the Russian steppes to the South African veldt.

Average (productive) Life Span: 7-9 years
Gestation Period: 9 months
Weaning Age: 6-8 months