Old Gloucester

Lore & Background

The Gloucester is a traditional breed of the West Country, particularly of Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, and the Severn Valley. Its origins are unknown, but it appears to have been closely related to the original Welsh Glamorgan, which became extinct before 1900. It was originally a triple-purpose breed, reared for milk, beef, and draught use, and remained widespread until the eighteenth century, when numbers began to decline due to competition with the Longhorn and Shorthorn. Numbers remained low throughout the nineteenth century. The breed received official recognition from the Board of Agriculture in 1911, and a breed society, the Gloucester Cattle Society, was started in 1919, with about 130 cattle at that time. The decline continued through much of the twentieth century, accelerated by the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 1923–1924, the Great Depression in the 1930s, and the Second World War. Some efforts were made to increase competitiveness: in 1929 Seymour Bathurst, 7th Earl Bathurst, acquired a White Park bull from the Dynevor herd to increase size, and the Wick Court herd was apparently influenced by the Jersey. By 1950, the Badminton herd of the Dukes of Beaufort and the herd of Colonel Elwes were sold off, leaving only two herds totaling about fifty head. In 1966 the Bathurst stock was sold, the breed society became dormant, and in 1972 the last remaining herd at Wick Court was dispersed. In 1973 the Gloucester Cattle Society was revived under the patronage of Henry Bathurst, 8th Earl Bathurst, with help from the new Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A new herd-book was started, and the first volume in 1975 listed about seventy cattle. The number of breeding cows rose to about 500 by 2007, but by 2021 the trust reported that the number of herds had fallen from 54 to 26 between 2006 and 2020, leading to its 'priority' listing.

Reader's Guide

The Old Gloucester breed holds significance as a traditional British breed with a long history in the West Country, though its origins remain unknown. It was once a triple-purpose animal, serving for milk, beef, and draught work, but is now used primarily as a dual-purpose breed. Its decline over centuries reflects broader agricultural shifts, including competition from other breeds like the Longhorn and Shorthorn, and devastating events such as the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 1923–1924, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. The breed nearly became extinct in the 1970s, with only two herds remaining by 1950 and the last herd dispersed in 1972. Its revival in 1973, aided by the newly formed Rare Breeds Survival Trust, demonstrates conservation efforts that brought numbers up to about 500 breeding cows by 2007. However, recent declines have placed it back on the 'priority' list. The breed is also notable for its use in cheese-making, particularly Single Gloucester and Stinking Bishop cheeses, with Single Gloucester holding Protected Designation of Origin status under European Union legislation. The breed's conservation status underscores ongoing challenges in preserving agricultural heritage.

Did You Know?

• The Old Gloucester was originally a triple-purpose breed, reared for milk, beef, and draught use.
• The breed nearly became extinct in 1972 when the last remaining herd at Wick Court was dispersed.
• The Gloucester is used to make both Single Gloucester and Stinking Bishop cheeses.
• In 2021, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust listed the Gloucester as 'priority' due to a decline in herds from 54 to 26 between 2006 and 2020.