What is Hereford (cattle)?
[[Image:hereford bull large.jpg|thumb|250px|A Hereford bull]] [[Image:Cows in green field - nullamunjie olive grove03.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Grazing]] Hereford cattle]] '''Hereford''' [[cattle]] are a widely used breed in [[temperate]] areas, mainly for [[Beef cattle|beef]] production. Originally from [[Herefordshire]], [[England]],<ref>[http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/hereford/ Breeds of Livestock - Cattle]. Retrieved 22, April 2008.</ref> they are found in the temperate parts of [[Australia]]. The breed also enjoys great popularity among ranchers in the desert [[Southwestern United States|American Southwest]] of the [[United States]], as well as in the centre and east of [[Argentina]] and in [[Uruguay]]. Herefords made up the largest percentage of registered cows among herders in [[New Zealand]].<ref>[http://www.beef.org.nz/research/breeding/breed_comm.asp Beef New Zealand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523160215/http://www.beef.org.nz/research/breeding/breed_comm.asp |date=2010-05-23 }}. Retrieved 22 April 2008.</ref> This is a testament to the hardiness of the breed; while originating in cool, moist Britain, they have thrived in much harsher climates. The breed has adapted to a wide range of climates on nearly every continent. Hornless variants with the [[polled livestock|polled]] [[gene]] are known as the Polled Herefords. Breeding horned and hornless together functions as a genetic dehorner. This is often used as an alternative to a dehorning process, which causes stress and often weight loss. ==References== [[Image:Hereford Calf Portrait, SC, Vic, 13.10.2007 edit.jpg|thumb|250px|A Hereford [[calf]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]]] {{Reflist}} {{Commonscat|Hereford cattle|Hereford (cattle)}} [[Category:Cattle breeds]]