![Durham Ox](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Durham_Ox.jpg)
The Durham Ox (March 1796 – 15 April 1807) was a
steer Steer, Steers or Steering may refer to:
Animals
* Steer or bullock, castrated male cattle
* Ox, a steer used as a draft animal
People
* Steer (surname)
* Steers (surname)
Places
* Steer Creek (West Virginia), a tributary of the Little ...
who became famous in the early 19th century for his shape, size and weight. He was an early example of what became the
Shorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late eighteenth century. The breed was developed as dual-purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however, certain blood lines within the breed always emp ...
breed of
cattle
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...
and helped establish the standards by which the breed was to be defined.
History
The animal was born in March 1796 and was bred by
Charles Colling of Ketton Hall,
Brafferton in
County Durham,
north east England.
Colling, together with his brother
Robert
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
, who farmed at nearby
Barmpton, was a pioneer of the cattle-breeding movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. After a visit in 1784 to
Robert Bakewell, a successful breeder of
Longhorn cattle, Colling began using Bakewell's techniques to develop and improve the Shorthorn breed. The animal eventually known as the Durham Ox was the grandson of Colling's original bull Hubbach or Hubback,
and became known as the Ketton Ox when he was exhibited in
Darlington in 1799. He was painted as such at the age of five years in 1801 by George Cuit of
Richmond.
In 1801 the ox was sold to John Day of
Harmston
Harmston is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated just west off the A607, and south from the city and county town of Lincoln. It sits on the Lincoln Cliff overlooking the River ...
, near Lincoln, for £250 (''2010: £''),
who renamed him the Durham Ox and had a carriage specially made to transport him, drawn by four horses. For the next five years the ox toured with him around England and Scotland, being exhibited to the public at agricultural fairs and other events. The ox proved extremely popular. For most of 1802 the Durham Ox was on show in London, where it is recorded that in one single day admission fees to see him totalled £97.
A dedication accompanying a 1802 painting of the ox by
John Boultbee (1753–1812) gave details of the animal's measurements and estimated its weight as 171
stone
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
(1,086 kg),
but later estimates ran as high as 270 stone (1,715 kg), although there may be some confusion, as the stone was not a standardised weight at the time. Whilst his size and weight partially account for the admiration he attracted, he was also regarded as a particularly fine and well-proportioned example of his type, at a time when the concept of selective breeding for specific characteristics was becoming established in agriculture.
On show in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
during February 1807, the ox damaged his hip as he was getting out of his carriage. The injury failed to heal and on 15 April 1807 he was slaughtered.
His weight after death was reported to be 189 stone (1,200 kg).
In popular culture
The ox was painted by various artists during his lifetime and pictures of him were reproduced and sold commercially. A coloured engraving after John Boultbee's picture of 1802 sold 2,000 prints in that year alone.
China and porcelain were decorated with pictures of the ox, including a range of blue and white Staffordshire pottery.
[Unattributed maker Durham Ox series china]
at the Virtual Museum, www.blueandwhite.com. Retrieved 5 September 2012. The impact made by the Durham Ox is reflected in the large number of British pubs named after him, and the town named after him:
Durham Ox in
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
,
Australia.
See also
*
*
Craven Heifer
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
The Durham Ox– painting of The Durham Ox, 1804
Further reading
Harriet Ritvo (1987), ''The Animal Estate: The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian age.'' Cambridge MA and London: Harvard University Press
1796 animal births
1807 animal deaths
Individual bulls
Individual animals in the United Kingdom