Welsh Black cattle originally come from Britain, and are the descendants of Pre-Roman Britain cattle. They are considered to be one of the oldest British breeds. As the name suggests, they evolved in the Welsh countryside. Some sources indicate that Welsh Blacks might be the distant relatives of the Iberian Peninsula cattle.
Black cattle have existed in Wales and other parts of Great Britain for thousands of years. In the early days, cattle were a major source of income for much of Britain's populations. This is why Welsh Blacks were often described as ‘the black gold from the Welsh Hills.'
For most of their history, Welsh Blacks were bred as dual purpose cattle. Northern herds were known for their thickset, beefy conformation, while Southern herds were known for their larger frames and dairy attributes. Today, Blacks are bred primarily for beef production.
Welsh Black cattle are mostly a horned breed, with a black coat (white can sometimes appear on the underline). A red recessive gene is apparent in some herds, as is a poll gene. During colder months, they have an ability to grow a thick coat, which sheds when the weather heats up.
Welsh Blacks are recognised for their ability to perform well on marginal pasture, easy calving, hardiness, rapid growth and maternal behaviour. Some cows are known to calve regularly until 15-20 years of age, which is testament to the breed's longevity. Bulls mature early typically weigh between 950 to 1000 kilograms.
Welsh Black cattle first arrived in Australia in 1984 when they were imported from New Zealand. More than twenty years later, they can be found in Victoria, Queenslands, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. In that time, Australia has also received semen and embryos from Canada, New Zealand and Wales.
The Australian Welsh Black Cattle Society maintain and promote the breed within australia.
Today, Welsh Black Cattle are distributed throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Spain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and Uganda.
