The Modern Sussex

If you’re looking for a low cost, low input, profitable beef breed, Sussex cattle will deliver.

A low cost, low input, profitable beef breed

Economic Management

Sussex cattle are a hardy native breed that thrive and fatten on less than perfect pasture. The ability of the cows to over-winter on low quality forage and then calve in the spring with plenty of milk, make the Sussex cow a very good choice for any beef system.
Sussex Cattle are eligible for the DEFRA Breeds at Risk Grazing Supplement.

Temperament

Sussex are well known for their placid manner and easy handling.

Hardy

Rapid growth of a thick winter coat ensures Sussex are able to tolerate very cold weather and outwinter. Dark, pigmented skin and a fine summer coat also allow them to cope equally well in hot dry summers thriving on low grass quality.

Easy Calving

Sussex cows will calve easily, breed regularly with an obtainable 365 days or less between calvings and remain productive well into their teens leading to lower replacement costs and lower vet's bill

Finishing

Youngstock will finish economically in an intensive system at weights of 600 to 630kg on silage. Alternatively, they will finish well at around 24 months on an extensive system.

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Here's what some of our breeders had to say

“The majority of the Sussex cattle stay out as long as the ground will stand it - usually early December - and are then fed on straw and hay until they begin calving in March when silage is also offered. An interesting comparison sees the yards of Simmental cattle eating six bales of silage a week against the two used by the same number of Sussex. This system works well for us as it requires little labour, minimal housing and a quick return on each cow. The modern Sussex offers a hardy, docile animal but one that can be pushed fairly hard without getting too fat".

Brenda, Sussex

We have switched the Sussex breed from Limousines as they suit our clay ground better than the heavier continental breeds. We are looking to go down the regenerative route and the Sussex suit our grazing system

Barleybrook Farm

"The Sussex is an extremely good forage converter – it seems to live on little. Despite cow numbers increasing by 25%, we are using less rolled corn and concentrate over the same period than we were 10 years ago. The fact the Sussex is so easy to look after means my stockman can be responsible for 500 head and also bale and drill on the arable enterprise, which cuts costs further. A lot of land in this area is in ELS or HLS. As a result, we need cattle that can graze marshland efficiently and maintain the environment. We put cows out on marshland made almost entirely of rushes and they grazed down highly efficiently and got the grass growing again."

James, Kent

Our Sussex herd performs exceptionally well on the Kent marshes, delivering hardy, low-input cattle with strong fertility. From 94 cows (including 12 heifers), only two were empty, with 100% live calves from the remaining 92 and just three assisted calvings. Calving is split between autumn and spring, with cattle finished off grass from April. Winter rations remain simple and efficient: silage-based diets supplemented with farm by-products, and a 90-day finishing TMR of 25kg silage, 3.5kg starch pellets, 0.5kg protein, plus minerals—demonstrating the breed’s ability to thrive without high-input feeding.

Roger, Kent

Performance Recording

Proven by Signet

Independent, science-based breeding values that let you select Sussex cattle on measured performance — not guesswork.

Signet Breeding Services is the UK’s leading provider of performance recording and genetic evaluation for beef cattle. By collecting data such as weights, calving ease and maternal traits, Signet produces Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) — an objective measure of an animal’s genetic merit that breeders and commercial buyers can compare with confidence.

For Sussex breeders, Signet’s BeefBreeder service shines a spotlight on what the breed does best: thriving as an efficient suckler cow on low-input forage. Recording is carried out entirely online, giving breeders instant access to breeding values, reports, charts and family trees, and the ability to list stock for sale in a professional catalogue format.

The Sussex Cattle Society funds the Signet recording costs for every member who has paid their capitation fees, removing the financial barrier that once held smaller herds back, and giving Sussex breeders free access to all of Signet’s services.

What you gain

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