Fabian, Maxwell and Imogen Eagle, who keep a herd of the animals near Swaffham, joined Traditional Hereford Breeders’ Club chairman Les Cook on a delegation to parliament, led by South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss.

They met farming minister Mark Spencer to call for Original Population (OP) Herefords to be reinstated onto Defra’s "Breeds at Risk" register.

They are concerned the omission "compromises the protection and preservation of important genetics" represented by original breed populations, whose small herd sizes make them vulnerable to culls in the event of a serious disease outbreak.

Pictured from left: Imogen Eagle, Maxwell Eagle, farming minister Mark Spencer, South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss, Traditional Hereford Breeders’ Club chairman Les Cook and Fabian Eagle (Image: Elizabeth Truss MP)

Traditional or Original Population Herefords can trace both parents directly back to the closing of the Hereford Cattle Society Herd Book in 1878.

These cattle, identified by an asterisk in the Herd Book, are a numerically small percentage of the breed - about 5pc of pedigree registrations.

Mr Cook said: "Our club members are concerned that the unique genetics represented within their herds must remain recognised by government when applied to decisions made during disease outbreaks and for the purposes of recognition under farming support schemes."

Fabian Eagle, who is also Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "The absence of the Original Population Hereford from the Breeds at Risk register puts owners at a financial disadvantage compared to other native breeds of similar status.

"This is why we have asked the minister to consider all the available evidence to support Traditional Hereford breeders."

Ms Truss said: "I am pleased the farming minister will be giving this issue due consideration and hopefully ensuring that the Traditional Herefords have the recognition they deserve.

"The Eagles’ herd is a fantastic asset to South West Norfolk and I want to see it thrive for generations to come."

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) says although the Hereford was developed in its native county, it was widely exported during the 20th century, creating large overseas populations, particularly in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South America.

The animals developed abroad were very different to the native stock, and many were imported into the UK to make the breed more able to compete against continental beef breeds.

But the popularity of the imported Herefords meant the native bloodlines became "endangered".