The British White

by Wendy Valentine

(Reprinted from ARMBA News Oct/Nov 1998)

Three years ago I bought my first British White heifers. They had been given names and we've kept them. First there was Victoria with her soulful black eyes inherited from her Friesian mother. The Friesian was kept at a British White stud for milking and was yarded with what had been believed to be a crippled imported British White bull. Victoria, the result of this illicit union, is a true to colour heifer, quiet and gentle. She has had two B Grade heifers, Nelly and Gipsy, both with some overmarking.

Our second purchase was a lovely, strongly built A Grade heifer registered The Crescent Jenny A. Six months ago Jenny produced a true to colour and now muscular little pure bred bull calf. With a double cross of Wispers Bay Rum and his sire Nehlerien Colonial Boy, we will register him Byalla Colonial Rum, using Rebel as his paddock name.

Grazing in the paddock, British Whites catch your eye with their distinctive colour scheme of black nose, muzzle, eyes, ears and black splashed fetlocks against a snowy white coat over black skin, sometimes speckled with black. On closer inspection black teats in cows and rudimentary teats in bulls and black tongues are visible.

Characteristics to suit Australian conditions

The breed carries many characteristics which are advantageous to Australian conditions. A high degree of heat tolerance, their black points and pigmentation around their eyes eliminating problems of eye cancer, sunburn or snow burned teats, resistance to cattle flies and cattle ticks.

They are a traditional British (Bos-Taurus) breed, large, naturally polled and dual purpose having initially been used in Britain as dairy cattle. They have ample milk for up to two calves and are excellent mothers protective of their calves. In herd conditions a guard cow will protect a group of calves while the remainder of the herd grazes. Cows calve easily with very few needing veterinary assistance and rarely caesarean sections. Calves are born with great vitality and are soon up and about.

Strong black hooves seldom need attention. They are resistant to tuberculosis and viral pneumonia, excellent foragers with an ability to convert lower grade pasture to maintain body weight and rear calves. They are pre potent especially in colour marking ability. Longevity is a feature of the breed with cows still breeding in their late teens and rearing good calves. They are known for their good temperament and high degree of intelligence and are easy to handle in the paddock and yard.

History

It is believed that the British White was developed from polled cattle brought to England by Viking settlers. Historians refer to a polled herd held by monks at Walley Abbey in Lancashire in the 17th century. British Whites also have a striking resemblance to the ancient horned White Park cattle of Britain whose origins go back to pre-christian times.

Domestication and selective breeding started in the early 19th century. British White's were first imported to Australia by Mrs Anthony Hordern in 1958 and this herd was dispersed in 1971. A herd was established by Anne-Marie Ingham in Orange, NSW and three bulls and two heifers were imported in 1984 from the UK and the first British semen in 1986. In 1989 the first American sire was imported.

Other breeding herds have been established in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and are gradually building up in numbers. However, owners of small land holdings can still "do their bit" by breeding one or two pure bred animals each year and enable the British White to maintain its place in Australia's paddocks.

ARMBA members who supplied statistics in the last survey currently hold 22 breeding cows, two bulls and thirteen young stock.

Wendy sometimes has stock for sale, she can be contacted at byalla@ix.net.au

Last updated 31 December 2001