Sussex cattle facts for kids
Sussex cow
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| Country of origin | England |
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| Distribution | World-wide, especially English-speaking countries |
| Use | Beef, formerly draught |
| Traits | |
| Coat | Rich red-brown coat, with a creamy white switch to the tail. |
| Horn status | Naturally white horned. Polled Sussex cattle also bred. |
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The Sussex is a special type of red cow from south-eastern England. These cows are known for their strong build. Long ago, people used them as oxen to pull carts and plough fields.
Later, farmers started raising Sussex cattle mainly for their meat, which is called beef. These cows are now found in many parts of the world. The largest group lives in South Africa. Sussex cattle can handle both hot summers and cold winters. They have a thin coat in summer and grow a thick one for winter. They are usually calm, but they can be quite stubborn sometimes!
Contents
How Sussex Cattle Started
Sussex cattle are one of several red cow breeds from southern England. Other similar breeds include the North Devon and Hereford. All these breeds came from older, local cows that could be used for many things.
In the past, farmers in the Weald area of England used oxen to pull ploughs for a long time. Because of this, Sussex cattle were bred to be strong and have big shoulders. They were perfect for hard work.
In the early 1800s, a writer named Arthur Young Junior said that the cows of the Weald were "among the best of the kingdom." Another writer, William Cobbett, was surprised to see such fine cattle on small farms. A special record book for Sussex cattle was started in 1874. This helped keep track of the breed.
Where Sussex Cattle Live Today
Sussex cattle are not super common in Britain anymore. But you can still find them in their home counties of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. Even the Royal Farms in Windsor Great Park raise purebred Sussex cows!
Sussex Cattle in Other Countries
Sussex cattle have traveled to many places around the world.
- Australia: They arrived here in the early 1970s. Farmers have even developed a type of Sussex cow that doesn't grow horns.
- Canada: These cows do very well in the Alberta region.
- New Zealand: They were brought to New Zealand in 1970. They are now considered a rare breed there.
- South Africa: Sussex cattle came to South Africa in the early 1900s. They are very popular in the North West Province.
- United States: The first Sussex cattle were brought to Tennessee in 1884 by John Overton Lea.
What Sussex Cattle Look Like
Sussex cattle have a beautiful, rich red-brown coat. Their tails have a creamy white tip, which is called a "switch." They are medium-sized cows with long bodies. Traditionally, they have white horns. However, some Sussex cattle are now born without horns, which is called "naturally polled."
