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The British White Cattle Association of America

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History and Information About British White Cattle

Some authors suggest British White Cattle were brought to the United Kingdom by the Romans about 55 B.C.

There is further evidence that British White Cattle were in the United Kingdom in pre-Roman times; perhaps as early as 4000 B.C.

One of the oldest herds of British White Cattle was the Sommerford herd. It was owned by Sir Walter Shakerly in Cheshire and established in 1725. It was dispersed in 1925 only five years after the breeds first herd book was published, but never the less, Somerford Bulls or their Sons were used in all except two of the herds listed in the first volumes of the
book and featured very widely in the Woodbastwick and Fugate herds. The Woodbastwick herd owned by John Cator is now the oldest British White Cattle herd.

The British White and White Park Cattle were listed in the same herd book from 1921 to 1946. At that time a herd book was started for each. Both breeds have the same colour characteristics but the old original British White Cattle were a polled breed and the White Park were homed.

In 1940, the British Government ordered the shipment of a group of these cattle to America to safeguard a precious national heritage if the United Kingdom was invaded. This was the only breed to be safe guarded in this manner.

Many public building and historical points of interest are maintained and supported by government finances. Is there any reason that equal recognition should not be given to a breed of cattle, such as the British White?

The value of British White Bulls as sires of beef cattle, are worthy of note by livestock farmers. This provides the strongest Commercial reason for use of British White Bulls on commercial cows; cows will calve easier, calves have higher feed conversion and efficiency and leaner carcasses as now demanded by the American housewife. In his
book, THE ANCIENT WHITE CATTLE OF BRITAIN, G. Kenneth Whitehead states that the carcasses were described in 1790 by Thomas Bewick as; They have little or no Fat within, but it is interlarded with the flesh". Does this sound like what we are trying to do today? Raise cattle with no more than 1/4" backfat but still have marbling. This breed was doing it over 200 years ago, British White Cattle hold their own against all other British breeds.

Large breeds may have higher daily gains and weaning weights, but in some cases the disadvantages are more drastic. They may be too big to fit THE BOX if fed to weights to grade. The benefits of speedy growth is of no value unless a live calf is reared. Difficult calving has a marked influence on calf mortality and fertility. This problem is noted in several large breeds. The higher the growth rate of crossbred calves sired by large bulls can be more than cancelled out by the superior survival rate and lower maintenance requirements of the British White calf.

The breed of the dam also affects the incidence of hard calving. The crucial fact is the relationship of pelvic size and body size. One critical factor is stump rear legs or straight hocks. Straight hocks in any cow of any breed tend to be accompanied by a square level rump with a pelvic opening of reduced size. A cow with a sloping pelvic girdle and low pin bones is less likely to experience calving problems.

There is considerable circumstantial evidence to credits of the British White Cattle with resistance to certain diseases. British White Bulls on test in England showed resistance and were free from pneumonia. Use British White Bulls and breed more disease resistance into your calves. British White Cattle adjust very well to different and extreme climates.

When Bull Testing Stations were first introduced, bulls were first ranked according to their daily weight gains while on test. In its self this was an inefficient method of evaluation. It took little account of compensatory growth(an unexpected spurt of growth in an animal which has been gaining weight slowly). Even more seriously, it gave no consideration to the efficiency of feed conversion or production of lean meat. The obsession with growth rate resulted in various undesirable side effects which the most important are; increases of the coincidence of calving difficulties and much higher calf mortality. Defects accompany the use of breeds which are becoming popular with the publicity given to higher growth and gain rates. Comparative trials carried out by New Zealand Department of Lands and Survey confirm that had this not been used as the basis of selection these problems could have been solved. The 400 day weight of British White Bulls is 52.3 % of mature weight, in some other breeds this is more like 50.0 %. This is a positive indication of efficiency.

Six Traits That Will Bring Profit To Your Herd

Fertility & Ease in Calving. The single most important economic trait in the cattle industry is that of fertility. That ability of a cow to give birth to a live calf each year of her productive life. The first calf should arrive at the cow's second birthday and a subsequent calf every 12 months.

An infertile cow is like a piece of machinery that produces nothing, yet requires space, maintenance and labour—and costs money. Fertility is a genetic fact that can be transmitted. The BRITISH WHITE may be the most fertile of all beef breeds. Those that own them swear by them.

BRITISH WHITES are noted for their calving ease! A small polled head and average birth weight between 70-75 lbs. is normal. Calving difficulties with heifers are rare and unheard of with mature cows ! BRITISH WHITE bulls provide that rare quality of throwing a medium to small calf that grows well.

Efficient & Trouble Free. Sometimes known as "easy keeper", meaning that an animal efficiently converts feed into pounds of gain or maintenance. Most people can easily understand the importance of this trait but the economic implications sometimes escape them. A BRITISH WHITE bull that was placed on a 140 day test at the University of Missouri gained at the rate of 4.04 pounds per day with a feed efficiency ratio of 5.5 pounds of feed consumed per one pound of gain.

Excellent Milking Ability. If it's a beef cow, why worry about milking ability? Good question, and there is a logical answer. The baby calf will grow and add weight based upon its mama's ability to produce ample quantities of rich milk. Anyone who has ever seen a herd of BRITISH WHITES knows that an abundance of rich milk is available for the baby calves. She is an excellent mother and even a heifer with her first calf produces much rich milk.

The cows have well set udders with a minimum of fatty tissue and teats that hold their shape. It is not uncommon to see 14 and 15 year old BRITISH WHITE cows with udders tightly set and well shaped teats.

Lean & Tender. Today's consumer does not want fat or tough meat for a variety of reasons. One of these being weight consciousness and the movement toward low cholesterol content. At the same time they do not want to sacrifice taste and tenderness. The BRITISH WHITE meets all of these requirements.

Pure-bred or crossbred steers will finish out at 1 100 to 1200 pounds and grade choice. A 63%-66% carcass to live weight is not uncommon.

Superior Maternal Instinct. BRITISH WHITE cows have maternal instincts superior to the average cow. First calf heifers claim their calves, get them up and started faster than any other breed. Cows that do not claim their calves are unheard of in this breed. BRITISH WHITE cattle are easy calving and very rarely need assistance and have an enormously high percentage of live calf drops.

BRITISH WHITES also incorporate the nursery system of protecting groups of calves by a guard cow while the remainder of the herd grazes.

Growth & Hardiness. BRITISH WHITE cattle have a hardiness that enables them to forage, graze, survive and do well on very poor pasture. They have the ability to stay in good condition and breed back regularly where some breeds would have a tough time surviving.

They thrive in either extreme heat or cold. BRITISH WHITES have proved themselves in all kinds of weather extremes, see our membership list to get an idea of the geography covered.

BRITISH WHITE bulls are perfect for cross breeding. They transmit the superior qualities of the breed to their offspring. Breeders have discovered that they have less calving problems with cows and heifers of all breeds when crossed with a BRITISH WHITE BULL. Yet the good growth is still there. It is very common for a 1,000 lb. cow to wean a BRITISH WHITE
calf at well above 500 lbs. strictly on grass.

Post:
P.O. Box 281
Bells, TEXAS 75414-0281, USA

Email: britishwhite@texoma.net

Web: www.britishwhite.org
Tel: 903-965-7718 or 800-826-4038

Fax: 903-965-5452