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.[1] Craven Heifer was bred by the Reverend William Carr in 1807, on the Duke of Devonshire's estate at Bolton Abbey.
[2] 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.
She was purchased by John Watkinson of Halton East for £200 (£10,000 in 2013 prices).
She was taken to Smithfield in London; 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.
In January 2013 an oil painting portrait of Craven Heifer, dated 1811, sold for £16,250 ($25,586) at auction.