1723
Death of Richard Tomkins
Death of Richard Tomkins, considered the founder of the breed. Benjamin Tomkins ‘The Elder’ (born 1714) succeeds under his father’s will to the cow Silver with her calf.
For nearly 200 years, the Hereford Cattle Society, in one form or another, has existed to ensure the registration and promotion of pedigree Hereford cattle.
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Herefordshire and its surrounding areas became known for the size, hardiness and high quality of its cattle, characteristics noted by agricultural commentators in the 17th and 18th centuries, and by the end of the latter, the white face and deep red coat of the present breed were established.
Hereford Cattle Society was founded in 1878 by Mr J H Arkwright of Hampton Court, Herefordshire and under the patronage of Queen Victoria. This followed the publication of the first herd book of Hereford cattle in 1846 by Thomas Eyton of Wellington, Shropshire and since 1886 the herd book has been closed to any animal with a sire or dam not previously recorded, so for over 130 years there has been continuous breeding.
The Hereford has been exported to over 120 countries throughout the world, surviving in all climatic conditions. There are now at least 25 countries maintaining their own Hereford cattle records, all relating back to the cattle recorded in those early volumes of the herd book.
Due to the breed’s expansion and the formation of Hereford cattle societies overseas, a World Hereford Council was set up in 1951, of which the UK was a founding member, to deal with matters of mutual interest to pedigree Hereford breeders globally.
Take a look through the history of our iconic breed and society, to see how it has flourished, while still remaining relevant to modern day beef production systems and markets.
Benjamin Tomkins ‘The Younger’ takes Blackhall, King’s Pyon. At this time father and son occupied four farms, together 840 acres.
On 17 and 18 October, Mr John Price held an extensive sale at Ryall; 116 head averaged £58, total being £6,728. The stock were described as being ‘wholly descended from that of Benjamin Tomkins’. The bull Wellington bred by Benjamin Tomkins, sold for £283 to M Jellicoe.
Hereford bull Cotmore born. Bred by T Jeffries, and acknowledged the greatest bull ever produced up to his day. His weight at nine years old was 3,920 lbs.
Youatt’s book on cattle explains Herefords were the predominant breed in 15 English and Welsh counties.
Mr TC Eyton, of Donnerville, Wellington, Salop, published the first volume of the herd book.
Sir David, probably the most famous Hereford sire shown by Mr Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge, wins first prize at Norwich Royal. He sired Sir Benjamin which sired Sir Thomas which was the sire of Sir Roger, which sired Lord Wilton.
Mr Benjamin Rogers purchases Sir Benjamin for £409 10s.
Lord Wilton wins at the Royal and other shows.
The first premier show and sale is held in February.
Sale of Mr W Griffiths’ herd at Aldersend; 104 head averaged £474 16s., bull calf Aldersend Conqueror realising £3,150.
Total exports of Herefords overseas this year, 682 head.
Sale by auction of Mr TR Thompsons’ herd, when 59 head averaged £446 each.
Free Town Admiral wins the championship at the Royal Show for the third year.
Vern Robert is born on 8 September, five days after outbreak of World War II. Robert is later be known as the ‘bull beyond price’.
A ship carrying a consignment of Herefords to America is torpedoed in the Atlantic and two swim ashore to Ireland, showing the stamina of the breed.
Weston Masterpiece stands first, senior and grand champion at RASE.
Penatok Crusader becomes the first ‘bull of the year’ and co-winner alongside Sugwas Oyster Lassie 5th of the Burke Trophy when awarded for the first time for the best pair of beef animals.
Toko Excelsior is imported from New Zealand by Messrs Cooper, McDougall and Robertson of Berkhamsted, the first poll to found the poll Herefords.
Record price realised for bull calf, with Haven Just Do selling for 4,000gns to the Argentine.
Captain RS de Q Quincy of the Vern herd dies.
A Hereford wins the supreme beef championship at the Royal Smithfield Show for the first time since 1900. The animal is 21 month old heifer Barnoldby Orange Miss, exhibited by Messrs Osmond and son, Grimsby.
Dispersal of the world famous Vern herd. 136 lots produce a record sale aggregate of £230,706 and a world record average of £1,696 7s.4d. for a sale of horned Herefords. Vern Scorpio breaks the 20 year old record for the highest price realised at auction when sold for 15,000gns. Lynda Vern 35th breaks the record price for a heifer calf by auction, when sold for 1,500 gns. Plum Vern 33rd makes a new record price for an in-calf heifer of 2,600gns. 2,200gns, is paid for Curly Vern 112th to create a new unserved heifer record, and the highest price ever paid for a bull calf was realised for Vern Sirdar which made 4,500gns.
Publication of the centenary edition of the herd book.
50th anniversary of the premier show and sale in Hereford.
The Hereford Stockman’s Club is formed.
The seventh Hereford World Conference in Canada.
King Gustav of Sweden imports Hereford cattle.
The Hereford Herd Book Society is renamed to the Hereford Cattle Society on the 150th anniversary of the first Hereford herd book.
The 12th World Hereford Conference is held in in USA.
The Hereford Cattle Society adopts the ABRI Breedplan registry and its performance recording system is installed.
A life-sized bronze Hereford Bull statue is unveiled in Hereford city centre to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The 16th World Hereford Conference held in Calgary, Canada. Kazakhstan and Switzerland become affiliated members of the World Hereford Council.
Normanton 1 Laertes from TD and WT Livesey, Leicestershire wins the interbreed championships at both the Royal Welsh and Royal Highland Shows.
A Hereford bull (Hawkesbury 1 Ronaldo) parades at Wembley Stadium for the FA Vase – Hereford FC vs Morepeth.
The 17th World Hereford Conference held in Uruguay. Brazil and Paraguay become affiliated members of the World Hereford Council.
Sky High 1 Lancome Lucy, a 16 month old heifer bred by B Birch and G Brindley, sells for 11,000gns and creates a new UK record price for a Hereford female sold at public auction.
Coley 1 Pilot, a two year old bull bred by Heather Whittaker, Halifax sells for 13,000gns (£13,650), creating a new UK record price for a poll Hereford bull sold at public auction.
Shraden 1 Alice P809 from the Timmis family, Baschurch sells at 7,500gns at Hereford market, setting a new female centre record.
Hereford Cattle Society moves from microsatellite to SNP DNA testing.
The dispersal sale of the Greenyards herd of Phil and Alison Allman, sees a new centre record set at Hereford market of 10,500gns for Greenyards 1 True Love M314.