Gloucester cattle are recognized as a rare breed valued for their milk and meat.

CHELTENHAM, United Kingdom – Gloucester cattle are back from the brink of extinction and ready for sale in the United Kingdom.

The first fresh cuts of Gloucester beef are now available, and strictly limited to those who live within six miles of the River Severn. The cattle are grass-fed. The vacuum-packed cuts are available from Willow Hill Farm in Apperley, near Gloucester.

“We have worked on every aspect of the animal’s life and worked with butchers and several leading chefs to create both a life story and a beef product we believe provides people the opportunity to enjoy the most tender, tastiest and rarest beef they will have ever eaten, confident each animal has enjoyed the best possible life,” said Clifford Freeman, a farmer with the largest herd of Gloucester cattle in the UK.

Gloucester cattle are a breed of dairy and beef cattle that are valued for their milk and beef, and as strong draught oxen, according to the Gloucester Cattle Society.

Gloucester cattle achieved peak popularity around 1750. But supplies of the cattle were depleted by disease, development of other breeds and grazing lands being taken over by farming.

The Gloucester Cattle Society was revived in 1973 in an effort to save the breed. Today, there are more than 700 registered females, and Gloucester cattle are recognized as a rare breed by the Rare Breeds and Survival Trust and its status is monitored on the RBST Watchlist of rare breed livestock.