Robert Colling and Charles Colling

Robert Colling and Charles Colling (respectively, born 1749, Ketton, Durham, England—died March 7, 1820, Barmpton, Durham; born 1751, Ketton—died January 16, 1836) were stock raisers, the first scientific breeders of Shorthorn, or Durham, beef cattle.

After visiting Robert Bakewell, the outstanding livestock breeder, at Dishley, Leicestershire, Charles began in 1782 a program of improving the quality of cattle in the Tees River valley. His brother, who occupied another farm in the district, later turned to cattle breeding. Charles’s wife, the former Mary Colpitts (1763–1850), also is credited with valuable work in cattle breeding.