British White
British White cattle are the polled variety of the indigenous Park Cattle
of the British Isles. The polled British White can be either red or black
pointed, and from the 17th to 19th centuries we know from estate records
that some English owners preferred the red point, while others preferred
the black point; and there was swapping
Formerly the British White was a dual-purpose animal, producing both
beef and
milk, but the modern focus for the animal is for meat production. The
dual-purpose heritage means that many cows are good milk producers, allo
HISTORY
The British White is a
British
cattle breed dating back in modern history as far as the 10th Century
where we find legal reference to the Park Cattle in regard to customary
tributes paid to the Lord of Dynevwr Castle, located in Wales. There is no
mention of the white cattle with red ears paid in tribute as being horned,
although The originating name of Park Cattle resulted from the enclosure or 'emparking' of vast acreage following the Norman Conquest of 1066. In the ensuing centuries, the emparked acreage produced herds of white cattle, and the term 'wild', not necessarily indicative of feral, was applied to them, as they roamed freely on these vast estates. These uniquely colored cattle were kept as ornamental and sporting animals in the enclosed parks for many subsequent centuries following the Norman Conquest, and they included both horned and polled individuals, and by 1918 the Park Cattle Society was formed and included both the horned and polled variety of the white Park Cattle in the herd books. It has been suggested that the polled variety of Park Cattle (British White) may have been brought to the British Isles by the Vikings or the Romans, and there are at least superficial similarities with Scandinavian breeds such as the Swedish Mountain cattle and other European breeds, including the colour-sided Irish breed, the Irish Moiled. However, there are ample historical and literary sources available today that show these claims to be without merit, and in fact the milk white cow with red/black points well pre-dates the incursions of the Vikings and the Romans. The presence of the polled British White is deeply woven into ancient Celtic historical tales of as long ago as 30 B.C. Records indicate a herd of polled white cattle in Northern England in the 17th century. These cattle were kept in the Park of Whalley Abbey, in the Forest of Bowland near Clitheroe. After that time, the major portion of the herd was moved to Norfolk, in the early 1800s. This herd was sold off in small lots, largely to nobility in the surrounding countryside. By the early 20th century the breed had declined to about 130 registered animals, mainly in the eastern counties of England, but since then numbers have recovered with about 1,500 registered animals in the UK, perhaps 2,500 in the US, and many in other parts of the world such as Australia. Sir Claud Alexander, owner of the Faygate herd, writing in the 1912 "Amateur Menagerie Club" Year Book says:"I would, however, strongly advise anyone who may think of forming a herd to go to the polled variety for his foundation stock, for they have been kept from time immemorial for their milk and beef producing qualities, and right well do they justify their existence... The Somerford cows are excellent milkers and one of mine averages five gallons a day when in full profit. In addition to this they are big heavy beasts and give a good return from the butcher when their milking days are over.... Mr Quinton Gurney's herd at Northrepps Hall is a thoroughly practical one, for on it devolves the task of keeping the town of Cromer supplied with milk. At Woodbastwick too, some grand milkers are to be found, and here great attention is paid to beef producing powers, as the records of the local fat stock shows frequently testify... If anyone who reads these notes and feels inclined to form a herd will communicate with me, I shall be pleased to supply any information that may be required." In the early 1940's the two groups of Park cattle breeders split and the breed name of the horned variety was formally changed to White Park, and the breed name of the polled variety was formally changed to British White. The Woodbastwick family in England played a key role in the saving of the ancient polled Park Cattle. "As can be clearly seen, the breeders of these cattle were engaged in a continual struggle to maintain numbers, and from time to time the blood of other breeds was introduced in order to avoid problems associated with in-breeding and to achieve the desired type. (The article on page 7 of the 1998 British White Breed Journal by Mr J Cator gives a full account of these outside sources used between 1840 and 1918 in the Woodbastwick herd)." (source: British White Cattle Society - UK) It is during this same period of time that English Longhorn, Welsh Black, and Scottish Highland were introduced into the horned Park Cattle herds in order save the breed. (Source: Hall, 1991) As well, Park Cattle bulls of the polled (British White) variety were introduced. (Source: Auld, 1888) An impending invasion by Germany in 1941 caused concern in Britain about Hitler's intentions. It was feared that Hitler might try to destroy the breed entirely.[citation needed] Five cows and one bull were shipped to a prison farm in Pennsylvania. These and other bulls shipped from England and other animals imported from Australia formed the basis of the British White breed in North America. "The horned White Park of today is the product of the infusion of “English Longhorn, Welsh Black and Scottish Highland”. (Hall, 1991) Hall goes on to say “This is because it (White Park) originated when several ancient herds of white cattle were merged and in all of these there had been crossing with other breeds.” The horned White Park herds of today have a variety of horn shape and length rather than exclusively the ancient classic lyrical shape tipped with black. In the United States the first breed registry for these cattle was formed or incorporated in the state of Iowa as a not for profit corporation on 23 October 1975 under the name of the "White Park Cattle Association of America" as corporation number 64755. Public records are on line at the Iowa Secretary of State website. Search Databases/Iowa Corporations. Not unlike the Park Cattle Society in Great Britain circa 1918 - 1940's this new association recorded both horned and polled animals in the same herdbook. On 16 December 1987 a group of breeders headed by Tom Zimmerman spun off from the "White Park Cattle Association of America" and started the "British White Cattle Association of America, LTD." Also an Iowa not for profit corporation number 119073. See the public records on line at the Iowa Secretary of State website. Search Databases/Iowa Corporations. Not unlike the "British White Cattle Society of England" that was formed in the 1940's as a result of the split within the "Park Cattle Society" the "British White Cattle Association of America, LTD" was for polled animals only. Also in the United States there is another organization that records only the horned cattle. This group is headquartered at the B Bar M in Montana. In the 1990's the Oklahoma State University started their Breeds Of Livestock website. Apparently in an attempt to keep down confusion and properly identify cattle recorded by each of these three associations they became known as American White Park, White Park for the Ancient White Parks and British White. This helped to better identify the animals recorded by each group but did not totally eliminate the confusion. During the early to mid 1990's there were discussions and negotiations between the boards of the "White Park Cattle Association" and the "British White Cattle Association" researching for enough common ground to merge the groups into one association and register only polled cattle. These talks eventually failed because the "White Park Association" group wanted to keep "Park" in the name and the "British White Cattle Association" group felt it should be only "British White." Still later, after the mid 1990's, another attempt at merger efforts were discussed and negotiated between the "White Park Cattle Association" and the "British White Cattle Association." It also failed with the name issue being the main point of contention. Shortly after the last failed attempt a group representing the "White Park Cattle Association" formed a new Iowa corporation under the name "American British White Park Association of America, Inc." Iowa corporation number 225813. See the public records on line at the Iowa Secretary of State website. Search Databases/Iowa Corporations. The "White Park Cattle Association of America" was merged into this new organization, under certificate number W00216275 on 29 July 1999. See the public records on line at the Iowa Secretary of State website. Search Databases/Iowa Corporations. Today, January 2008, the websites for the three USA organizations can be found at: http://www.whitecattle.org for the British White Park Association http://bbar.com/www/parkcattle for the Ancient White Park Cattle Association http://www.britishwhite.org for the British White Cattle Association of America
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amongst the owners who had a strong preference for either red or black
points. British White cattle are a naturally polled (hornless) breed, with
a milk white coat and black or red points. The colored points are about
the ears, nose, eyes, teats, tongue, and hooves and often have speckles of
black or red about the body, and splotches of color on the lower leg. The
skin beneath the hair is usually a quite pale pink or black, with stronger
color beneath their spots. This colour-pointed pattern is found in several
wing calves to grow very well when the cows'
diet consists of grass alone. British Whites are also able to thrive on
very poor pasture such as marshland and heathland, making them suitable
for use in managing natural pasture habitats of high nature conservation
value. The British White is very docile – sometimes becoming so much so
that herding them becomes difficult and they must be led using feed as
bait, or one must train them to come to your call in hopes of treats or
fresh pasture.
today the Dynevwr herd is the horned variety of Park Cattle. As well,
reference is made to to the milk white, red-eared, hornless cattle as far
back as the 8th century in the recording of the "The Tain Bo' Cualgne",
the oldest epic tale in Western European literature, which scholars
generally agree is based on actual events beginning in 30 B.C. in Ireland
during the