British White Cattle
The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust
White House Farm
Rare breed British White are one of Britain's oldest breeds of cattle. They are believed to have links with the ancient wild white cattle of Britain. They have attractive markings (black points on ears, eyes, nose and feet) and a docile nature. British White have been used for parkland grazing for centuries and are ideally suited for the conservation grazing at White House Farm.
We have entered the Hasketon herd in the 2008 British White cattle herd competition. We will be judged in the medium size herd section and look forward to welcoming the judges sometime during May, when they will be inspecting herds nationally.
2008
Spring 2008, turnout to grass took place on Wednesday 23rd April, just two days later than in 2007. The main difference this year is the lack of vigour in the growth of the grass, compared to the same time last year, following a prolonged period of cool weather, with frequent overnight frosts. The first calf, a bull calf, arrived four days early, the night before turnout. Since then, two more bull calves were born on Saturday 26th April, and a heifer calf on Sunday 27th April. We are hoping for a few more heifer calves as we are looking to increase our future breeding stock.
2007 Notes
During the autum period of 2007, in an effort to avoid the Bluetongue virus, we housed the cattle over-night. This resulted in extra work, but as it was the only recommended way of avoiding the cattle being attacked by the virus-carrying midge when they were biting at night, we did all we could to protect the herd. A vaccine should be available by May 2008, and we plan the treat all the cattle.
In early December 2007, all the cattle underwent their first TB testing. All were passed clear, with no positive reactors.
One of the heifers, Solent, produced a small heifer calf on Burgh Meadow on 7th July. The calf has been named Severn. When Solent arrived in January we were unaware that she was in-calf, so Severn's arrival is something of a bonus!
Severn's Progress
Severn has grown well since her birth. This photo shows her aged seven weeks, taken on 25th August 2007
Angela Hamilton of the British White Cattle Society has been of great assistance in providing back-up for the successful establishment of the pedigree herd of British White catte at White House Farm. In 2007, Angela organised the loan to the Trust of Bowland Alpha, who was with us from mid July to the end of October, and we will see our first batch of calves before the end of April 2008.
It is planned that Bowland Alpha will return to Hasketon again in July 2008.
The summer of 2007 turned out to be one of the wettest on record in the region. Therefore, making silage and hay proved to be very difficult, with only a few small windows of opportunity available when the weather stayed dry for sufficient time to cut and bale the grass. This was especially true for hay. Fortunately, we held back until early August for the main hay cut, and got our timing spot on with a few very hot, sunny and breezy days, just right to make good hay.
Follow link to see hay and silage photos