The Durham Ox (March 1796 – 15 April 1807) was a steer who became famous in the early 19th century for his shape, size and weight. He was an early example of what became the Shorthorn breed of cattle and helped establish the standards by which the breed was to be defined.
Etching of the Durham Ox by John Boultbee (1753–1812)
The animal was born in March 1796 and was bred by Charles Colling of Ketton Hall, Brafferton in County Durham, north east England.[1] Colling, together with his brother Robert, 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, [2] 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.[3]
In 1801 the ox was sold to John Day of Harmston, near Lincoln, for £250 (2010: £14,900),[2] 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.[4]
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 (1,086 kg),[3] 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 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.[1] His weight after death was reported to be 189 stone (1,200 kg).
In popular cultureedit
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.[4] China and porcelain were decorated with pictures of the ox, including a range of blue and white Staffordshire pottery.[5] 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, Australia.
^ ab"Online Exhibitions: Livestock in Art". Museum of English Rural Life. University of Reading. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
^ abQuinn, Michael S. "Corpulent Cattle and Milk Machines: Nature, Art and the Ideal Type". Society and Animals Journal of Human-Animal Studies. 1 (2). Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
^Unattributed maker Durham Ox series china at the Virtual Museum, www.blueandwhite.com. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
External linksedit
The Durham Ox – painting of The Durham Ox, 1804
A Matter of Good Breeding
Further readingedit
Harriet Ritvo (1987), The Animal Estate: The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian age. Cambridge MA and London: Harvard University Press
December 02, 2023
durham, locality, australia, victoria, march, 1796, april, 1807, steer, became, famous, early, 19th, century, shape, size, weight, early, example, what, became, shorthorn, breed, cattle, helped, establish, standards, which, breed, defined, etching, john, boult. For the locality in Australia see Durham Ox Victoria The Durham Ox March 1796 15 April 1807 was a steer who became famous in the early 19th century for his shape size and weight He was an early example of what became the Shorthorn breed of cattle and helped establish the standards by which the breed was to be defined Etching of the Durham Ox by John Boultbee 1753 1812 Contents 1 History 2 In popular culture 3 See also 4 References 5 External links 6 Further readingHistory editThe animal was born in March 1796 and was bred by Charles Colling of Ketton Hall Brafferton in County Durham north east England 1 Colling together with his brother Robert 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 2 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 3 In 1801 the ox was sold to John Day of Harmston near Lincoln for 250 2010 14 900 2 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 4 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 1 086 kg 3 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 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 1 His weight after death was reported to be 189 stone 1 200 kg In popular culture editThe 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 4 China and porcelain were decorated with pictures of the ox including a range of blue and white Staffordshire pottery 5 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 Australia See also edit nbsp Animals portal Craven HeiferReferences edit a b 200 years since the sad demise of the legend that was the Durham Ox Darlington amp Stockton Times 27 April 2007 Retrieved 4 September 2012 a b Lee Sidney ed 1901 Colling Charles Dictionary of National Biography 1st supplement London Smith Elder amp Co a b Online Exhibitions Livestock in Art Museum of English Rural Life University of Reading Retrieved 4 September 2012 a b Quinn Michael S Corpulent Cattle and Milk Machines Nature Art and the Ideal Type Society and Animals Journal of Human Animal Studies 1 2 Archived from the original on 15 April 2013 Retrieved 4 September 2012 Unattributed maker Durham Ox series china at the Virtual Museum www blueandwhite com Retrieved 5 September 2012 External links editThe Durham Ox painting of The Durham Ox 1804 A Matter of Good BreedingFurther reading editHarriet Ritvo 1987 The Animal Estate The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian age Cambridge MA and London Harvard University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Durham Ox amp oldid 1058659875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
