British White Cattle

  British White Cattle Information and Resources.

  The British White is a naturally polled English breed of cattle, white in color with black points. British White cattle are registered and recorded in the USA by the British White Cattle Association of America.

    Learn more about the British White Cattle by visiting the Oklahoma State University Breeds of Cattle Website. They present a short but very interesting story with pictures.

  Excerps from "A Brief History of British White Cattle in America."

  The British White Cattle Association of America has as its primary objectives the development and promotion of the British White breed of cattle. It is believed that the British White breed can make an important contribution to the improvement of the cattle industry in America.

  The association is open to anyone with an interest in British White cattle. It is the intention of the association to maintain high breeding standards with emphasis placed on performance.

 HISTORY OF BRITISH WHITE BREED IN AMERICA

Great Britain
  Most bovine historians have come to the conclusion that the British White breed of cattle traces its roots to early 8th or 9th century Scandinavia. There is some historical evidence that polled white cows with black points were in evidence at that time in the mountains in Scandinavia. Apparently a few of these distinctly colored cows were brought to the British Isles by the Vikings, either as conquerors or via trading.

  The first written records would indicate that a herd of white polled cattle with black or brown ears and black muzzles were located in Northern England around the latter part of the 17th century. The records show that the cattle were kept in the park (at that time) of Whalley Abbey, then within the Forest of Bowland near Clitheroe.

  The main herd was moved to Norfolk, north and east of London in the early 1800’s. Records indicate that the herd was sold piecemeal in small lots to the Nobility of the surrounding countryside and remained under Nobility ownership for several decades. The foundation of British Whites in England, United States and Australia, in all likelihood, may be traced back to 1840 when Albermarle Cater of Norwich, England, purchased a herd of pedigree British Whites from Lord Suffield of Gunton. That herd has remained intact under the stewardship of John Cator and his son, Henry. The Cator prefix, “Woodbastwick”, is wide spread throughout all three countries.

  Another substantial British White herd is located at Hevingham, England, near Aylsham. This herd has also played a key role in the breed’s history and survival. Miss Diana Birkbeck has presided over this herd with skill and dedication, winning many show championships.
The first British White herd book was established in England in 1918 with five herds represented. They are as follows: Bawdeswell, Hevingham, Woodbastwick, Faygate and Kellmarsh. Today (1996) the breed is prospering as never before in England. There are now (1996) 111 herds that are registering cattle in England. In 1993 these herds had new registrations of 406 females and 57 bulls. The breed is now well accepted as a viable economic asset to the bovine industry of Great Britain.

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