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The Shetland Cow
It is a sad fact that many people are not even aware that there is such an
animal as the Shetland cow. This is because, like many traditional breeds,
it has suffered greatly from the switch to intensive livestock farming – so
much so that it is currently classified as endangered by the Rare
Breeds Survival Trust.
This is regrettable, as these charming animals are a valuable part of our
natural heritage, and comprise a genetic resource that needs to be
conserved. They excel in traditional roles such as smallholding and
extensive grass-fed commercial beef systems, and they are eminently suitable
for use in conservation grazing, a strong growth area in livestock farming.
They have an ancient lineage, thought to date back to the cattle the Vikings
brought to the Shetlands Islands in the period 700-1100 AD, although since
the Vikings were great travellers, there have undoubtedly been other
influences.
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