The BWT Ranch is located on the Brazos River in North Central Texas. Nature has blessed us with an abundance of wildlife including white-tailed deer, native turkey, quail and an assortment of numerous insects, reptiles and small mammals. Coyote and wild pigs also abound, and then there's that dang bobcat. Water is available year round, even in drought. Pecans and cottonwoods grow near the River. We used to raise Angus cows. But, thanks to a dear friend, we found a better breed, one that has survived for centuries, almost going unnoticed, so we are switching to British Whites and never looking back. They often say that if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't. This breed of cattle breaks that old saw. Now for a little history. Taken from the www.wikipedia.com article which I wrote.
The British White is an English cattle breed dating back at least as far as the 16th Century in the British Isles. It is a dual purpose animal, producing both beef and milk. Presently, the primary focus for the animal is for meat production. But, due to their excellent milk production, calves are able to gain extrodinarily well when the cows diet consists of grass, with very few supplements needed. The animals are very tame and often able to be petted. They can be so tame as one cannot herd them, but allow them to just follow, dropping out a little feed to keep them interested.
Most bovine historians believe that the breed of cattle now known as British Whites go back to a breed of cattle found in the mountainous regions of Scandinavia around the 8th or 9th century. Closely related to the White Park and bred for certain characteristics in England, these cattle were characterised as having white bodies with black or red tips on the ears, eyes, muzzle and teats. The original native breedstock may have been transferred to the British Isles by Vikings, although this is by no means certain. An interesting question that is debated in the cattle world: Why are there so many cattle breeds coming from a sea locked island? There is a land bridge hypothesis that seemed somewhat outlandish in the past. But, we now accept the fact that American Indians came to that continent by this means. Roman importation has also been disscussed by some and also dismissed by others.
The first written records indicate a herd of naturally polled (hornless) cattle in Northern England in the 17th century. Records show that the cows were kept in the Park of Whalley Abbey, in the Forest of Bowland near Clitheroe. After that time, the major portion of the herd was moved to Norfolk, in the early 1800s. This herd was sold off in small lots to nobility in the surrounding countryside. Nobles retained control of the animals for several decades due to their outstanding meat quality and ease of care.
An impending invasion by Germany in 1941 caused concern in Britain about Hitler's intentions. It was feared that Hitler might try to detroy the breed entirely.[citation needed] Five cows and one bull were shipped to a prison farm in Pennsylvania. These and other bulls shipped from England and other animals imported from Australia form the basis of the British White breed in North America.
Currently there are only about perhaps 2500 of these animals in the US. They are scattered on family farms and still considered somewhat rare. Breeders are currently engaged in increasing awareness of a breed that is gentle and of fine quality, both in meat and milk.
For more information about British White and White Park Cattle browse our site and visit the links below:
British White Cattle Assoc. of America (BWCAA)British White Cattle Society (UK)
Halliburton Farms
British White Cattle Society of Australia
