Cattle have been farmed in the UK since the first farmers settled and started clearing the wildwood over 6000 years ago. Initially the cattle were small dual purpose animals, supplying both meat and milk. Recently cattle breeds have become specialised and farmers have concentrated on either the supply of beef or milk.
Unlike most other farm animals, sheep are seasonal breeders and lamb in the spring months when the weather is warming and ample supplies of grass are available. Sheep can be housed for lambing or are more commonly brought to a field close to the farmyard where the shepherd can keep an eye on them. We illustrate the process of lambing.
Each year some 2 million beef animals are produced. Beef is a relatively expensive meat and in recent years consumption has declined in favour of white meats. Beef is most popular as a fresh meat product.
