Pembroke cattle facts for kids

Pembroke cattle were a special kind of black cattle from Wales. They were known for being strong and having short legs. These cattle were good for two things: producing milk and meat. In 1867, people started a group to make the breed even better. They wrote down information about the cattle in a special book in 1874. Later, in 1904, Pembroke cattle were combined with other black cattle from North Wales. This created a new, well-known breed called the Welsh Black.

What They Looked Like

Pembroke cattle were usually described as being very black, like coal. Their horns were light in color with black tips. The horns first pointed out and forward. Then they curved a bit upwards and inwards.

Some people, like William Youatt, said a few had white faces or white spots near their udders. But others thought this happened when they mixed with different cattle breeds.

What They Were Good For

These cattle were known for being good milk producers. Many Pembroke cattle were sold to dairies in London. They were also great for "droving." This meant walking them long distances to England to be sold. Farmers in places like Sussex and Kent liked to buy them for grazing. Many also went to the English Midlands.

Their History

This old breed originally came from parts of Wales. These areas included Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and South Cardiganshire. There were two main types within Pembrokeshire. One was from the Castlemartin area. The other was from the Dewsland area.

Local farmers thought these cattle were tougher. They could live better on poor land than English dairy breeds, like the Shorthorn. Both types of Pembroke cattle were later joined together. They became part of the Welsh Black breed. A special book for this breed was started in 1874. By the late 1800s, about 25,000 black cattle from South Wales were sold to England each year.