The British White is a descendant of the ancient indigenous wild white cattle of Great Britain. They developed in the Lancashire region at Whalley Abbey and are known to be one of the oldest British breeds. White cattle were reputable throughout Great Britain and many were kept in enclosed parks for either ornamental or sporting purposes. The park cattle included both horned and polled herds, from which the British White later emerged, however exact origins are somewhat unclear.
The British White is a naturally polled, large, dual-purpose breed. Colour colour is white with black markings on the nose, muzzle, ears, eyelids, teats, hooves and tongues. Red markings may appear instead of black however this is extremely rare. Skin colour is either pink or blue.
Mature cows can weigh up to 650 kilograms, while mature bulls can weigh as much as one tonne. The breed is known for both beef and dairy production, where the beef is celebrated for its quality texture, leanness and taste. Today, beef production is the priority, yet there is still a strong focus on retaining all those advantageous traits of the breed. Excellent mothering abilities are also characteristic, where an individual female is responsible for guarding groups of calves while the rest of the herd grazes. Their ample milk production facilitates healthy and rapid growth in calves.
Other typical features include hardiness, parasite, disease and heat tolerance and easy calving and high fertility. British Whites are also acknowledged for their ability to perform well despite poor pasture, which is particularly conducive to conservation grazing. Due to their dual purpose heritage, sometimes British Whites are crossed with dairy cattle.
British Whites first arrived in Australia in 1958. The stock had come from a herd in Norfolk, UK. Now, the breed is distributed throughout most states in the country. The British White Cattle Society of Australia was established in 1983 and continues to preserve and promote the breed.
Today, the British White is distributed throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and America.
