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Cattle
Vaynol
Watchlist; Category 1, Critical.
The Vaynol is a unique population of cattle. The herd was established in 1872 in Vaynol Park, North Wales, adjacent to the Isle of Anglesey. It was maintained there as a semi-feral herd until 1980, when it was moved to a series of locations in England. It has never existed in large numbers, and the present breed is descended from a small number of founders. The herd now resides at Temple Newsam Estate, near Leeds, where numbers are increasing slowly.
Management of the cattle was not practicable during their semi-feral phase, but they have proved amenable to standard management systems at Temple Newsam.
Vaynol cattle are small and primitive in appearance with an angular body, sloping pelvis and sickle hocks, but at Temple Newsam these characteristics are less evident as the animals are in better condition. The horns grow upwards. Colouring in the main is white with black points on the ears, muzzle, eyelids, feet and teats, although a good proportion of animals are completely black.