The Breed Standard has not changed since the Gloucester Cattle Society was formed in 1919.

As the Gloucester is a dual purpose breed, attention is paid both to milk-producing characteristics and body conformation.

The Breed Standard is described as:

• Body black brown
• Head and legs black
• Dark muzzle including the skin on the nose
• Dark skin around the eyes
• Cow's horns fine, wide and inclined to turn up, with black tips
• White tail, long hair or bushy switch
• White streak on the back
• Fine short hair
• White belly
• Broad forehead, long cheek and Roman nose

With such a tight description individual animals will occasionally exhibit variations from standard, or mismarkings. Mismarked cattle are eligible for entry on the Society's pedigree database but are not allowed to breed pedigree bulls.

Mismarkings
The more common mismarkings are:

White marks on or running up from the heel or hoof	Spots of coloured hair on the tail, below the tail head	Complete encircling of colour on the tail
Colour in the switch	Pink skin on the nose