Craven Heifer (1807–1812) was a

cow Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are called co ...

which lived in the early 19th century, and remains the largest cow ever shown in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Craven Heifer had a weight of 4,370 lbs, a length of 11.3 ft, a height of 5.3 ft, and a thickest girth of 10.1 ft. Craven Heifer was bred by the Reverend William Carr in 1807, on the Duke of Devonshire's estate at

Bolton Abbey Bolton Abbey Estate in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, England, takes its name from a 12th-century Augustinian monastery of canons regular, now known as Bolton Priory. The priory, which was closed in the 1539 Dissolution of the Monasterie ...

. Carr fed her relentlessly for five years until she weighed and measured in length and over in height. She was so large that a special door twice as wide as the norm had to be built to get her in and out of the cowshed. This doorway can still be seen on the estate. She was purchased by John Watkinson of Halton East for £200 (£10,000 in 2013 prices). Being such a notable creature, she was taken on tour, and attracted much attention wherever she went. She was taken to Smithfield in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

; the journey from Wakefield to the capital took 73 days from 19 November to 30 January 1812, during which time she was shown at numerous towns and cities en route. Craven Heifer lived for five years, compared to an average life expectancy of 15 years for that breed of domestic cattle. In January 2013 an oil painting portrait of Craven Heifer, dated 1811, sold for £16,250 ($25,586) at auction. Several

public house A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption Licensing laws of the United Kingdom#On-licence, on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the ...

s bear the name ''The Craven Heifer'', particularly in the Craven district of

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...

References

{{Reflist Individual cows 1807 animal births 1812 animal deaths Individual animals in England Craven District Bolton Abbey

See also

References