The unique and distinctive qualities of beef from the historic breed of Gloucester Cattle are to be protected after the Gloucester Cattle Society successfully applied to have the term “Gloucester Beef” protected by a Certification mark.

The Gloucester Cattle Society, a registered charity, which exists to protect and promote the breeding of Gloucester Cattle, took the decision to apply for the Certification Mark from the Trades Marks Registry, after seeing retailers selling meat as Gloucester Beef despite the fact that it did not come from the Gloucester Cattle.

Following the grant of the Certification Mark, only meat that has come from Pedigree Gloucester Cattle or their pure bred progeny may use the “Gloucester Beef” Certification Mark.

Gloucester Cattle Society President Keith Burgess, who has kept Gloucester Cattle since 1978 said:“As a Society we have worked hard since 1973 to re-build the National Gloucester Cattle herd and the decision to apply for the Gloucester Beef Certification mark is an important step in this development, by protecting the quality and authenticity of the Gloucester Cattle name with a unique marketing brand.”

Clifford Freeman, whose father Eric Freeman helped re-establish the Gloucester Cattle Breed Society in 1973 and who now markets beef from his own herd Gloucester Cattle said: “It is only right that if you are going to market a product as ‘Gloucester Beef’ that it should be a true reflection of the Gloucester Cattle Breed rather than meat, from any breed, that happened to have been reared in Gloucestershire.”

The Gloucester Beef Certification Mark may be used by Members of the Gloucester Cattle Society as part of their Society membership.

Butchers and Retailers may also be licensed by the Society to use the mark where they are selling authentic Gloucester Beef.

For more information on Gloucester Cattle visit www.gloucestercattle.org.uk or call 01926 651147