24/09/2026
Our small herd are Shetland cattle, and are currently classified as an officially ‘At Risk’ rare breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist.
In the 1950s, the breed had critically declined to fewer than 40 purebred animals globally.
While conservation efforts have helped them recover, they remain rare today. Their ability to thrive on our exposed coastal wetlands comes down to their ancestry.
The breed originated between 700 - 1100 AD when livestock brought by Viking settlers crossed with native Scottish island cattle. Generations of adapting to the harsh, exposed climate of the Shetland Islands gave them the natural hardiness, weatherproof coats, and self-sufficiency that make them such effective conservation actors at our estuary farm today. Because they are a smaller native breed, they are uniquely suited to the fragile ecosystem of the estuary.
Their selective grazing naturally breaks up dense, uniform vegetation. This creates a varied landscape of short grass for feeding and taller tussocks that provide essential shelter for wildlife, such as lapwings (of which we had multiple nests this season!). We love their presence on our community farm and since introducing them have seen significant increases in insect and invertebrate populations, which is supported by their dung. These insects provide a vital food source for young chicks during the breeding season.
