Cattle : SUSSEX

Country of origin: Sussex, England

Australian Status: 

International status: UK, Australia.

Arrived in Australia: 1915

Australian Population: 2019/20: 520. 2022: estimated 310 females. No reply to queries. Only two studs here.

Distribution:  Western Australia.

History: One of the ancient British breeds, mentioned from time immemorial (1066) in various writings. Directly descended from the dark red horned cattle of the Weald forests of Sussex and Kent, in England at the time of the Conquest and long before that. The forests gave them good protection. The breed was used to found other breeds such as the West Highland, Welsh, Hereford and Devon.

 The Society started in 1877 and published the first stubook in 1878 with calf records going back to 1840. and the Sussex Cattle Society incorporated in 1890 - now not-for-profit and a registered charity. 

History Australia: September 1915, a bull and two heifers arrived for Mr. J.T. Turner of Holmwood, Woodford, Qld. Went into quarantine in Qld (in case of tick.) They were showed in Brisbane in 1916 - believed the first time the breed was showed in Australia.

Breed Traits: Once triple purpose, now beef. Red cattle with a white tail switch. Quiet, good natured.

Good feet and legs and known for being good walkers. Adaptable breed with many sweat pores means hot summers/climate no problems, while in cold climates they grow a thick winter coat, some handsomely curled, and winter out on exposed moors happily.

Easy calving, calves around 30 - 40 ks. Cows have plentiful rich milk, making calves grow fast. Early maturing. Heifers at nine months weigh 290-2300 kgs. and steers the same age 350kgs. 

Once used for draught work, particularly strong in country considered too difficult for horses. Both agricultural and forestry work was done with Sussex oxen, and at times heifers too. Some of the Sussex  cattle bred for draught work were huge. 

Also used as house cows in the past, with excellent butter made from the cream and good cheses from the milk. Lovely white, black tipped horns that sweep forward and up, although modern times dictate many breeders prefer polled lines.

Good foragers, seeking a wide range of feed and eat roughage. High fertility and good breeders, breeding into their teens. Popular terminal bulls for dairy cows. Naturally horned, but the modern fashion for polled animals demanded by feedlots, mean many lines are selected now to be polled. 

Well muscled, solid cattle, which are thrifty feeders and can be pushed to finish by 10 to 12 months. The beef is top quality and much praised. Prepotent genes - the ancient red colour throws to calves even with one parent not a Sussex.

Organisation: A leading stud in Australia is Willyung Poll Sussex Stud near Albany, WA. and another is Glenridge Park, Mount Barker, also in WA Glenridge Park Sussex

England http://www.sussexcattlesociety.org.uk/ 

Additional Notes:

Photo: Sussex cows near Petworth, west Sussex, England, by Charlesdrakew, WikiMedia Commons

Page by Janet Lane
updated Aug 2022

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