Shorthorn History:

The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated on the northeastern coast of England in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, York and Lincoln. The first real development of the breed occurred in the valley of the Tees River about 1600. The large-framed cattle that inhabited this fertile valley became known as Teeswater cattle. The breed later spread to Scotland and then to America in 1783.

When first brought to Virginia, the breed had attained the name Durham. Shorthorns were popular with America's early settlers for their meat and milk, as well as their willing power for the wagon and plow. The breed followed pioneer wagons across the Great Plains and into the far West.

By 1854, Midwestern farmers had begun direct importations from Scotland, concentrating their efforts on Shorthorns strictly for beef production. Even in its early history, the breed was recognized because of its ability to adapt. It could be easily bred with the Spanish breed, Longhorns, brought in earlier by conquistadors.

Although Shorthorns came first, Midwesterners in 1870 discovered naturally hornless cattle occurred from time to time in horned herds.
Thus, Polled Shorthorns were discovered and were the first major beef breed to be developed in the United States, having gained its origin in 1881 in Minnesota.

Polled Shorthorns possess the same qualities for adaptability, mothering ability, reproductive performance, good disposition, feed conversion, longevity and popularity as their horned counterparts.
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