New book detailing the Collegewood herd of White Park cattle is published

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Until its dispersal in 2013 following the retirement of John Barker, the highly respected Collegewood herd of White Park cattle grazed beautiful parkland in the Chilterns.    As a non-farmer with no land and no prospect of buying any John’s start in life as a cattle owner looked precarious.  But with a lot of hard work, help from friends and neighbours and his devoted wife Mo, John acquired more and more acres and gradually developed his beloved White Park herd.  Following retirement from owning cattle John has written a 53 page A4 book, illustrated by many beautiful photographs, which details how he started out his cattle-owning career with two acres and a Charolais x Welsh Black calf and finished with a herd of White Park cattle that enjoyed a visit from Her Majesty the Queen.

John’s book “Collegewood” is now available from the White Park Cattle Society priced at £8.  To order your copy please telephone 01926 632560 or email [email protected]

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Pennyspot Pheobe is awarded Champion rosette at show

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At our annual show on Friday 25 September at Worcester Livestock market White Park cow Pennyspot Pheobe was awarded the Champion rosette and Heathylee Cup for best overall female. Pennyspot Pheobe was bred by John Carrick and is owned by David Graveston.   She was born in 2009 by Smoile Napoleon out of Pennyspot Ivory and has just given birth to her fourth calf.

The following day Pennyspot Pheobe and her calf were sold during the WPCS Annual Sale.

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Roy  Critchlow (left) awards David Graveston the Heathylee cup

Member donates proceeds of sale to emergency fund

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Flood-stricken farmers will be benefiting from the proceeds of the sale of a White Park heifer which was auctioned during the White Park Society Spring breed sale on Saturday 17 May 2014 at Worcester Market.  The heifer was donated by White Park Council member, Frank Sutton.

Gracedieu Charlie was sold for 780 guineas and together with a collection at the market and a donation by the White Park Cattle Society a total of £1000 was raised for Forage Aid.

Frank Sutton of Parc Grace Dieu, Raglan, Gwent commented “I felt compelled to help the farming communities that have been so badly affected by this winter’s floods.  It was gratifying to see attendees bid so keenly for a beautiful animal and help an excellent cause”.

The White Park Cattle Society Chairman said “The Society would like to thank Frank Sutton for his generosity.   As well as Frank’s donated heifer there was also a range of other high-quality pedigree White Parks sold during the auction”.

Somerset farmer James Winslade, whose family farm was severely flooded at the beginning of 2014, accepted the donation on behalf of Forage Aid.