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What to eat in the United Kingdom? Top 7 British Beef Cattle Breeds

Last update: Wed Feb 19 2025
Top 7 British Beef Cattle Breeds
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best British Beef Cattle Breed Types

01
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Angus beef is fresh meat that comes from the Aberdeen Angus cattle, a breed that has its origins in the Scottish counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus. The meat is highly prized for its exceptional marbling, which is believed to contribute to its superior texture, incredible tenderness, juiciness, and excellent flavor.


The breed’s characteristics play only a partial role in the meat’s quality as the breed is often crossed with other cattle breeds. Therefore, the diet, age, lifestyle, maturation, and processing of the meat are of vital importance to the final product. 
02
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Scotch beef is meat from cattle that is born and reared in Scotland. These are special beef breeds with naturally suckled calves. It is sold as fresh meat, either the whole body, whole sides, hindquarter, forequarter or cuts of beef. The welfare of the animals and sustainable raising is of utmost importance in the production process.


It should not be confused with Scottish beef, which refers to any cattle born and reared in Scotland, without the PGI certificate. Goes really well with potatoes, roast tomatoes, or used in casseroles or salads.

03

Beef Cattle Breed

HEREFORDSHIRE, England
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Hereford cattle are a breed of beef cattle that originated in Herefordshire, England, in the 18th century. They are known for their hardiness, efficiency, and adaptability to various climates and environments, making them a popular breed worldwide.


Hereford cattle are characterized by their distinctive red bodies and white faces, along with white markings on their underbellies, legs, and tails. They can be found in both horned and polled (naturally without horns) varieties. The breed is renowned for its docile temperament, which makes it easier to handle and manage. 
04
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Welsh beef is meat from cattle that is born and reared in Wales that is well marbled, firm to the touch and with a loose, consistent texture. It is sold as fresh meat, either whole body, whole sides, part sides, cuts of beef or minced meat.


The farmers use natural selective breeding methods so that the leanness and the quality of the meat can be improved. Welsh beef goes well with roasted vegetables, blue cheese, or used in salads or pies.

05

Beef Cattle Breed

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND, England
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West Country beef is fresh meat sold as whole carcasses, cuts or sides of beef that are born and reared in the West Country in England. The beef has a good composition of muscle because of the specific grass diet on which they feed, making the meat unique.


The meat is marbled, richly flavored, the fat is white to yellow, and the meat color is pink to dark red (matured meat is a darker red). The finished product ideally weighs between 200 kg and 500 kg, and is refrigerated for a minimum of ten days to improve the tenderness and quality of the meat.

06

Beef Cattle Breed

ORKNEY ISLANDS, Scotland
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Orkney beef is top quality fresh meat made from cattle that are born and reared on the Orkney islands off the north shore of Scotland. It is appreciated for its unique and distinctive texture, tenderness and full flavor, and used for grilling, stir-frying, in casseroles and meat pies.


The meat is exclusively sold fresh or chilled, as a whole body, whole side, part sides or fine cuts of beef which can be bone-in or boneless, depending on the customer's taste.

07
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Welsh black cattle are large, black animals with black-tipped horns, although some strains may yield polled ones. An occasional white may appear underneath, and depending on the presence of the recessive red gene, individuals of red color might occur also.


The amalgamation of two separate strains of Welsh black cattle, namely the North Wales strain, previously used solely for beef production, and the South Wales or Castlemartin strain, used primarily for milk production, has created the modern Welsh Black cattle breed that possesses the prized characteristics of both strains. 

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British Beef Cattle Breeds