A YOUNG farmer in Scotland's far north is doing his bit to preserve one of the UK’s most under-threat native cattle breeds.

Sam Wybro bought three Gloucester in-calf cows in the spring and earlier this month started them on an insemination programme as part of his plan to build up a pedigree herd at his holding near Watten in Caithness.

Gloucesters, which have a signature white stripe along their back and underbellies, are classed as ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Once a staple of English agriculture as a dual purpose beast, producing both high quality beef and milk from poorer quality grazing, their numbers can now be counted in the mid to high hundreds.

Mr Wybro took over the 104-acre holding at Oldhall House four years ago and has since been working to regenerate it. Gloucesters are his latest foray into rare breeds as he already runs 44 Middle White pigs, being one of just two Scottish producers of that variety.

The 26-year-old, who also has 70 Shetland sheep and an in-calf Shorthorn, acquired his latest stock from a dealer in Pickering in North Yorkshire.

Local AI technician Willie Mackay has now been on-farm with semen from two RBST-run Gloucester bulls, Noent Colour Sergeant and Newberry Perry.

Mr Wybro said: “I was attracted to the Gloucesters as healthy rare native breed cows within a certain price range tend to get a premium at marts in areas like this where there are not a lot of rare breeds. They are renowned for having a very quiet temperament and to be easy to manage. That is especially good for me as I am on my own most of the time.

“The cows lose out on confirmation and their legs and their feet aren’t fantastic but I would say that as cereal prices continue to rise, they will become an increasingly attractive option for the smaller farmer.”