Extinct Animals From The Isle of Man - Manx Cattle

Manx Cattle

Manx cattle went extinct c. 1815. A description of the breed survives along with a record that the Manx people referred to them as Boaghans or Boghans (Manx words for cow include Booa and Baa).

Thomas Quayle described the Manx breed, just as they were dying out, in his 1812 "General View of Agriculture in the Isle of Man";

"THE original Manks breed of cattle were low, deep-chested, hardy animals, of a dingy black, often with the ridge of the back, and ears, brown, or wholly of a dark brown colour, having seldom white or light coloured spots; short jointed, but not full in the hind quarter; the horn very thick at the root, and rather curving up-wards. They gave rich mills, but in small quantities; were easy to feed and fat, though not of early maturity. It would seem a breed well adapted to the climate, and the then state of culture.

From the influx of a variety of other breeds, this original race is disappearing.

The produce, in the month of June, of a dairy, the cows of which approached most nearly to the indigenous breed, and which were in good pasture, proved to be eight ale quarts to each cow ; the produce, in butter, one pound of 16 oz. to ten quarts of milk, nearly.Sala cuta Fudi Pan Jot"