All about Quenby Hall Organic Longhorn Beef

The ultimate in quality, traceability and care of the environment.

The English Longhorn is regarded as the oldest pure breed of cattle in England.

Once a Rare Breed, it came close to extinction in the middle years of this century but have proved themselves to have a valuable role to play in the production of quality, healthy beef from grass.

The English Longhorn originated in northwest and central England and Ireland. They are not related to the American or Texas Longhorn whose ancestors came from Spain. They do have a long and fascinating history linked to that of the great livestock pioneer of the 1700's, Robert Bakewell. He took and improved the breed in the 1700's, probably crossing local cattle with Lincoln Cattle. Known at various points in history as Dishley, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, the English Longhorn was widely popular until the mid 1800's when farmers and drovers favoured the new Shorthorn cattle.

In old paintings the link between Quenby Hall and the English Longhorn can be clearly seen:    

The breed declined rapidly for nearly 200 years until it was rescued by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The efforts of RBST in 1980 resulted in 255 registered English Longhorns. There are now over 2,500 registered pedigree females. Here at Quenby Hall we now have a herd of around 150 animals grazing on our pastures.

The English Longhorns is a massive animal with a deep, long body. It is named for its extra-long, typically down-curving, horns. It comes in a variety of colours, often brindled or blotched, frequently with white on its legs, chest and flanks, and a characteristic white stripe or "finching" down its back. They are large lean beef cattle and a strikingly attractive breed.