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STATUS New Zealand: Rare Importation: Recent Overseas: Rare |
British White Cattle
A Rare Breed of British Origin
 Champion British White bull Huckleberry Finn of De Beauvoir Farm, UK |
The British White breed of cattle derives from the ancient indigenous white cattle of Great Britain known today as White Park; the British White is a naturally polled variant. Both share the white colouring with distinctive black (or occasionally red) points – ears, nose and lower legs. Colour spots frequently occur in the coat.
The horned and polled forms of these white cattle have been regarded as separate breeds – White Park and British White respectively – since 1946. The British White, historically regarded as a dairy breed (although some lines were dual-purpose), is today almost entirely bred for beef.
 British White cow with cross-bred twin calves (Owned and photographed by Jeff & Gaynor Ball) |
Recently, at least two New Zealand members of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society have been using imported semen from the champion bull Huckleberry Finn (pictured above) to enhance their breeding programmes. – both members had already had a quiet programme of grading-up to British Whites in operation for some years.
Some purebred British Whites have already been bred up in New Zealand (see photo on right).
The Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand gratefully acknowledges the help of Angela Dunn of De Beauvoir Farm, UK, in the compilation of this page.