Polled Hereford

The Hereford breed was founded some two and one-half centuries ago as a product of necessity. A thrifty and enterprising farmer near Herefordshire, England , was determined to produce beef for the expanding food market created by Britain's industrial revolution. To succeed in Herefordshire, these early-day cattlemen realized they must have cattle which could efficiently convert their native grass to beef and do it at a profit. There was no breed in existence at the time to fill that need, so the farmer of Herefordshire founded the beef breed that locally became known as Herefords. These early Hereford breeders molded their cattle with the idea in mind of a high yield of beef and efficiency of product, and so firmly fixed these characteristics that they remain today as outstanding characteristics of the breed. Beginning in 1742 with a bull calf from the cow Silver and two cows, Pidgeon and Mottle, inherited from his father's estate, Benjamin Tomkins is credited with founding the Hereford breed. This was 18 years before Robert Bakewell began developing his theories of animal breeding. From the start, Mr. Tomkins had as his goals economy in feeding, natural aptitude to grow and gain from grass and grain, rustling ability, hardiness, early maturity and prolificacy, traits that are still of primary importance today. Other pioneering breeders were to follow the Tomkins' lead and establish the world-wide renown for the Herefordshire cattle causing their exportation from England to wherever grass grows and beef production is possible. Herefords in the 1700's and early 1800's in England were much larger than today. Many mature Herfords of those days weighed 3,000 pounds or more. Cotmore, a winning show bull and noteworthy sire, weighed 3,900 pounds when shown in 1839. Gradually, the type and conformation changed to less extreme size and weight to get more smoothness, quality and efficiency. Hereford came to United States Herefords came to the U.S. in 1817 when the great statesman Henry Clay of Kentucky made the first importation--a bull and two females. These cattle and their offspring attracted considerable attention, but they were eventually absorbed by the local cattle population and disappeared from permanent identity. The first breeding herd in America is considered to be one established in 1840 by William H. Sotham and Erastus Corning of Albany, New York, and for practical purposes Herefords in the United States date from the Sotham-Corning beginning. The more densely populated eastern area of the United States, including herds in New England, was the early home of Herefords and from there they fanned out to the South and West as the population expanded and the demand for beef increased. Records of the New York State Fair reveal that 11 herfords were exhibited there in 1844 and were highly praised. Several breeders were active in exhibiting at fairs and exhibitions in the East and Midwest where the Herefords met with great success. Perhaps the greatest early interest in the breed came from the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia where T.L. Miller was awarded a medal for the first-prize herd.