Home

White Park Cattle

 Good Looks, Distinguished History, Future Potential

White Park is a very old breed of beef cattle, kept in Britain for more than 2,000 years but which is now rare. They are closely descended from Britain’s original wild white cattle that were enclosed in parks by the nobility during the middle ages. By the end of the 19th century such parks had largely gone out of fashion and the breed struggled to survive.

In 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed and chose the White Park as its logo. From around 60 animals left in the breed at that time the numbers have increased and there are now approximately 950 adult breeding cows.  The breed is classed as “At Risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

The White Park has many qualities:

  • they are distinguished in looks – large white animals with black points on their muzzle, ears, eye-rims and feet.
  • the elegant wide-spreading horns are usually black-tipped.
  • the cows are noted for ease of calving, milkiness and high fertility, while bulls used as crossing sires confer ease of calving and exceptional hybrid vigour.
  • they have excellent foraging ability and hardiness and longevity are also notable.
  • cows breed until they are typically 12 to 16 years old, although some breed up to more than 20 years of age.

We hope you enjoy discovering more about White Park cattle.  If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the Secretary of the Society, Jane Hampson, on [email protected] or 01926 632560

nelsonnorman2