A herd of critically rare cattle is steadily increasing its numbers on the chalk downland of the Alkham Valley in Kent.
Susannah and Keith Mannerings are breeding the Albion cattle at Chilton Farm in the Alkham Valley near Dover.
Bakewell Blues
Albion cattle originate from the Peak District, where they were commonly known as the Bakewell Blues.
The intention was to breed a blue roan breed but due to a dominant white gene in the colouring, white Albions and black Albions are also produced. They are a dual-purpose breed producing milk and beef.
The breed society began 100 years ago and was building up numbers when WWII began, followed by an agricultural depression and two bouts of Foot & Mouth disease.
By the 1960s, the society was wound up and people believed the breed to be extinct. But this proved not to be so with a few stubborn farmers determined to keep the breed alive by swapping bulls amongst themselves and from these the few herds of all Albion cattle are now descended.
The Mannerings’ Speckles herd was started in 1993 by Susannah’s mother and was the only herd in Kent and the South East of England.
Rare Breed Survival Trust
The Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) has now officially recognised the Albion as a breed and numbers are increasing although it is still regarded as critically rare. There are just 240 or so females in the world.
During the five years that Keith and Susannah farmed at Chilton Farm, the Speckles herd numbers have slowly increased.
The couple feel that the native Albions are suited to grazing the chalk downland and fit in well with their Chilton Farmyard B&B business.
Albion Cattle Society open weekend
Last weekend, 8/9th October, the Mannerings’ hosted the annual Albion Cattle Society open weekend whose slogan is: “You have to eat them to keep them!”
Members arrived from across the country to a fine weekend get together and a lunch of Albion beef and halloumi cheese made from Albion milk.
On the Sunday as part of the open weekend, visitors were taken on a guided tour at Samphire Hoe where they shown conservation grazing with cattle and sheep.
Susannah commented: “It was really interesting to learn so much at this local tourist spot.”
Published from an article in the Alkham Newsletter
More details about the Albion Cattle Society https://www.albioncattlesociety.co.uk/