The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has added the Ancient Cattle of Wales to the RBST Watchlist. The breed is now included in the Watchlist’s Priority category, marking it as one of UK’s cattle breeds requiring the most urgent support for continued survival. This Priority categorisation reflects the breed’s current very small population size, narrow geographic concentration, and concerns at the recent decline in new births registered.

The full new RBST Watchlist, showing the latest position for each of the UK’s native livestock and equine breeds, will be published in April 2025. The current Watchlist (published in April 2024) can be found at www.rbst.org.uk/rbst-watchlist. Recognition on the RBST Watchlist will bring new support for conservation and promotion of the Ancient Cattle of Wales.

The breed, which comes in six colour variations is believed to possess unique inherited traits. Evidence reports the presence of coloured cattle in Wales dating back to the time of Hywel Dda in the 10th Century, where the existence of native Welsh cattle of varying colours is recorded. Over time, particular colours tended to be more popular in certain areas. However, numbers declined until the Ancient Cattle of Wales were kept and bred only in a few remote hill farms in Wales, appreciated for their hardiness and suitability for the terrain and inclement weather.

During the late 1970s, a small number of dedicated farmers identified the remaining coloured cattle in the uplands of Wales, and since its formation in 1981 the Ancient Cattle of Wales Society (Gwartheg Hynafol Cymru) has detailed the breed standard, created a herd book for pedigree cattle, and worked on increasing the breed’s population. This recognition on the RBST Watchlist will enable the application of RBST’s expertise, resources and network to support the Ancient Cattle of Wales for a thriving future.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive Christopher Price said: “The Ancient Cattle of Wales is a valuable breed for today’s farming needs, as well as for its irreplaceable heritage value. The breed is excellent for conservation grazing that supports the environment and biodiversity, and it is a good economical beef breed in hill and upland situations. However there has been a really concerning decline in new birth registrations over the last few years, as well as several well-established herds being disbanded following retirement of their owners. The breed is in a grave situation right now, but RBST is looking forward to working with the Ancient Cattle of Wales Society to secure a more stable situation. Ultimately, we want to see the breed thriving again: these hardy cattle can make a key contribution in the UK’s future farming, where food production goes hand in hand with the environment.”

Ancient Cattle of Wales are hardy, medium-sized cattle with large ears and soft, thick hair. The breed’s six colour varieties include white with black or red points, belted, red, blue, smokey/mouse, and ‘line back’ (any colour with a white line along its back, tail and underside). Originally a dual-purpose animal, today the breed is an excellent beef animal, producing a high-quality carcass with tender, well-flavoured meat and doing well on less-favoured grassland.

The breed has been recognised on the RBST Watchlist following a formal application by the Ancient Cattle of Wales Society (Gwartheg Hynafol Cymru), and assessment by RBST against the criteria required for recognition as a native breed.

Mike Lewis, Chairman of the Ancient Cattle of Wales Society (Gwartheg Hynafol Cymru) said: “We are delighted to have been accepted as part of the RBST family. With registered cattle numbers in the low hundreds, I and the wider ACW Society look forward to working with RBST to continue to promote and protect this very special Welsh breed. To be where we are now with this unique historic Welsh breed has only been made possible by the dedication and belief of past and current members.”