After an absence of four years, cattle have again arrived on the estate. The breed of cattle chosen this time, is the ancient breed of ' White Park'. The estate has a small area of grassland that is managed under the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which is farmed without the use of fertilizers or sprays. The breed was predominently chosen because it thrives on low input rough pasture.

It is the owners intention to build up a small breeding herd of these wonderful animals and also to produce high quality meat which is slow grown and naturally produced.The finished beef will be marketed within the local area in the form of boxed meat.

White Park cattle have a number of favourable characteristics that enable them to adapt to the estate's current farming regime. These are listed below;

WHITE PARK BREED CHARACTERISTICS Low maintenance Hardy and so will comfortably winter outside Docile Produces exceptional quality meat Easy calving Attractive Good milk production Excellent mothers Longevity

Breed History

White cattle with colored points are first mentioned in old Irish sagas dating back almost 2,000 years. They are later found again in Welsh law which was formulated at Dynevwr Castle in Deheubarth by a series of rulers from 856 to 1197 AD. The Dynevor herd dates to this time. The Chartley and Chillingham herds of England and the Cadzow herd in Scotland date to the mid-thirteenth century when herds in England and Scotland were enclosed in hunting chases. Writers of the time differed as to the origin of the herds. Some contended they were brought to Britain while others, including the famed authority Rev. John Storer, believed they were the direct descendants of the Wild White Bull that roamed the forests which once covered the British Isles.

In the early 1800's, at the time of Storer's writing, there were more than a dozen pure White Park herds though most were exterminated by the turn of the century. Of the six ancient herds remaining, the best known is the Chillingham herd. The registration program for While Park cattle was started in the early 1900s, but lapsed with the outbreak of World War II in the 1940's. At that stage only the Dynevor, Woburn, Whipsnade and Cadzow herds survived as domesticated herds, and the Chillingham and Vaynol as semi-feral herds. When the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed in Britain in 1973 these remaining herds were given the communal name "White Park".

The special qualities of White Park beef puts it at the top of the field, even King James I recognized it’s qualities as far back as 1617, when he dubbed a joint as ‘Sir Loin’. Forget Longhorn beef, White Park beef is for the discerning foodie !

If you would like to buy some of our wonderful grass fed beef please contact John on the following number 01264 736208.