white park cattle stud

A BREED OF
DISTINCTION

WHITE PARK CATTLE

White Parks have an ancient history as old as the mists of time. They are descendants of the wild cattle that roamed the British Isles. The earliest references to cattle of White Park type are found in the pre-Christian Irish epics, such as ‘Tain Bo Cualgnel (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), where white cattle with coloured points were often mentioned as a special and choice breed. With the arrival of the Romans, the Druids were pushed to the northern and western fringes of Britain and into Ireland. It is in these areas that the old herds of White Park cattle were found. There are multiple references to them through the ages, particularly in literature and other sources from Ireland, Wales, northern England and Scotland.

White Parks are large, statuesque animals with a porcelain white coat. With contrasting black tips on their nose, ears, and particularly around the eyes, they are the Elizabeth Taylor of the cattle world. The elegant wide-spreading horns are usually black tipped.

In the Middle Ages, parks in Scotland and England became enclosed and wild cattle were enclosed in them. Here they were the preserve of nobility for sport and eating. The story goes that in the 16th century, King James I was invited to a banquet in Lancashire. Wanting to impress the King, the host served the best cut of meat that money could buy, a loin of White Park beef. So impressed was the King by this magnificent feast he asked the butler to tell him more about the beef he was dining upon. The butler responded and said it was a loin of White Park beef. With that, the King picked up his carving knife and struck the meat while he announced 'Hence forth, thou shall be called ‘Sir Loin’.

By the end of the 19th century such parks had largely gone out of fashion and the breed struggled to survive. During the Second World War the Government considered White Parks to be an important part of the British heritage. Churchill had a small herd and some minor Royals shipped to Canada for safekeeping. The breed reached its most endangered position following the Second World War. Numbers fell to a perilous level; less than 60 animals remained in the British Isles. In 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (UK) was formed and chose the White Park as its logo. From that time the numbers have increased and there are now approximately 950 adult animals. Contrast this with the estimated 2,000 Pandas that exist today. Herds can be found in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and since 2012, New Zealand.

highlea white parks stud

OUR STORY

HIGHLEA WHITE PARKS

Justine and Allan have committed themselves to the conservation of White Park cattle. In late 2015 four calves were purchased for the sole purpose of being surrogates for IVF treatment.

Embryos would have to be imported from the UK. Every day of the 2 years it would take for the calves to be ready would be needed to organise everything.

Contact was made with the UK White Park Cattle Society. Lawrence Alderson, the world leader in White Park knowledge and author of several leading volumes agreed to help. In early 2016 The president of the White Park Cattle Society of UK came to New Zealand to discuss importing embryos. By 2017 the White Park Society had found a donor wiling to go through the process of supplying embryos.

A lot of correspondence ensued with both governments as rules and regulations about importation were satisfied. Eventually 8 embryos were shipped from the UK.

July 2018 and 3 White Park calves were born. New Zealand’s first; Daisy, Lilly and Roy. With the genesis of a herd established a second round of IVF treatment could proceed with eggs sourced locally and semen much easier to obtain from the pedigree UK sires. To add to the genetic diversity of the herd a small number of fertile eggs were also sourced form another willing donor. The small herd were untouched by M. Bovis and plans proceeded.

A dozen calves were obtained in December 2019 to be surrogates for what was hoped would be a large number of eggs. Two rounds of IVF treatment later we had 10 pregnant cows. September ’22 and the herd of precious White Parks had increased to a dozen.

2023 has Daisy and Lilly expected to calve. To increase diversity contact is being made with the White Parks in Canada and Germany to source semen for the Highlea heifers. They will be expected to calve in 2024.

When the herd is firmly established exclusive White Park beef will be available in New Zealand.

contact highlea white parks

CONTACT US

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N:
Allan & Justine Rowland
A:
Highlea Farm
PO Box 677
Rangiora 7440
E:
highlea.farm@highlea.farm
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