Sussex cattle characteristics
Sussex cattle are descendants of horned red cows from southern England. A Sussex Herd Book was established in 1878 with pedigrees dating from 1855. Alec Holm of the Potchefstroom Agricultural College imported the first Sussex cattle, which included 20 cows, to South Africa in 1903.
The beef production business in South Africa now includes a significant portion of the Sussex cattle breed, one of the oldest and purest types of English cattle.
They can be found in nine provinces of South Africa.
They produce good quality meat.
They are early maturing, which allows them to be marketed off veld or pastures.
They have smooth and deep red coats with white tails.
They are medium-sized animals.
They are “trouble-free” and easy to handle.
The cows have great maternal traits and produce ample milk.
The cows also have high calving rates, making them exceptionally fertile.
Sussex cattle are naturally horned.
Sussex animals can survive in harsh African environments, from the cold Drakensberg and Eastern Cape mountains to the Kalahari Desert and the bushveld.
Sussex bulls are highly recommended for all crossbreeding programs to add additional weaning weight.
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