Breeds of Cows Directory: "W"

Breeds of Cows Directory: "W": Wagyu - White Park

Information contained here is summarized from many different sources. Please refer to those sources for complete information. Major contributors are Oklahoma State University, Coroba University of Spain, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Domestic Animal Diversity Program of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Google Images and Wikipedia

Wagyu

Links: Oklahoma State University

What are they? Where did they come from? The word Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle ('Wa' means Japanese or japanese-style and 'gyu' means cattle). Most of the cattle were influenced by British and Continental breeds for a few generations nearly 100 years ago. Brown Swiss, Shorthorn, Devon, Simmental, Ayrshire, Korean, Holstein and Angus had been imported by 1887 and impacted today's Wagyu. Crossbreeding was prominent for several years, but when the price of crossbreds collapsed in 1910 no further crossbreeding was conducted. The result was selection for specific traits determined by region and extensive linebreeding was used to achieve those traits. The dominant black Wagyu strains are Tottori, Tajima, Shimane, and Okayama. Tajima cattle, bred in the Tajima region, were originally chosen and bred for their heavy forequarters because their primary use was to pull carts. They tend to be smaller and less heavily muscled than the Tottori breed. Tottori cattle, because they were used as pack animals for the grain industry of the Tottori region, were selected for their size and strength of topline. The other main "breed" of Wagyu, was developed on the island of Kyushu and are red in color. As with the blacks, there are two distinct strains-Kochi and Kumamoto. Kochi cattle were strongly influenced by Korean breeding while Kumamoto are believed to have considerable Simmental influence. The original import of these cattle to the U.S. in 1976 consisted of two Tottori Black Wagyu and two Kumamoto Red Wagyu bulls. That was the only importation of Wagyu into the U.S. until 1993 when two male and three female Tajima cattle were imported and 1994 when 35 male and female cattle consisting of both red and black genetics reached the U.S. [Oklahoma State University]

Welsh Black

Links: Oklahoma State University

Origins The Welsh Black is a native British Breed descended from cattle of Pre-Roman Britain in the rough mountain and hill country of Wales. Originally there were two distinct strains of Welsh Blacks, both known as a dual purpose animal; the compact sturdy North Wales type and the bigger, rangier South Wales type. The successful intermingling of these types over the past 90 years has resulted in an optimum sized animal with an emphasis on beef production. The unique traits of the breed are a result of this heredity and environment. The Welsh Blacks are now established throughout the U.K. and have proven themselves from Canada to New Zealand. Welsh Blacks first arrived in Canada in 1970 via the U.S.A. and further direct importations have followed. They are present in nine provinces and many U.S. states, with a concentration of breeders in Alberta. Welsh Blacks offer the commercial cattleman a profitable alternative for herd improvement. The Welsh Black Options Welsh Black offers the following options to the purebred breeder and the commercial cross breeding cattleman to aid in a progressive and profitable breeding program. Black The majority of Welsh Blacks are horned, and black, varying from rusty black to jet black, with some white permitted on the underline behind the navel. Red The red recessive gene occasionally appears in a black herd and without exception breeds true. The red animal has no black genes and a red bull on a red cow will produce a red calf. Polled There are naturally polled Welsh Blacks available in increasing numbers, both Black and Red. [Oklahoma State University]

West Coast Fjord, Westland Horned, Western fjord cattle see Vestland Fjord

Western Red Polled Cattle, West Coast Red Polled, Westland Polled see Vestland Red Polled

White Cáceres, Also Known As: Blanca guadianese, Blanca Cacereña

Links: Oklahoma State University

The White Cáceres was developed in the region surrounding Extremadura in Spain and used primarily for meat production. They are one of the lyre horned breeds and are nearly extinct. In an effort to preserve this breed the Ministry of Agriculture selected a herd consisting of 30 cows and 2 bulls which is maintained at the artificial insemination center in Badajoz. The females average 134 cm in height and weigh approximately 450 kg. The males are slightly larger at 140 cm in height and 670 kg. [Oklahoma State University]

White Park, Historically Known by: Park, White Forest, White Horned, Wild White

Links: Oklahoma State University

The White Park is a horned cattle breed which is white with colored points. These points include the ears, nose, rims of eyes, teats and feet but excludes the tail switch. The upper portion of the tongue should be black while underneath is most often pink. The intensity of these markings varies from herd to herd. The White Park is now considered a beef breed and selected for those traits but historically they were considered dual purpose since some herds have been used for milk production. It is reported to be well adapted to non-intensive production systems. The White Park is not closely related to the British White or American White Park. Although all three of these breeds share a common color scheme the White Park is very genetically distinct from the other two breeds. This same color patterns is sometimes expressed in other breeds such as the Berrenda, N'guni, BON and Texas Longhorn. 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". In the late 1930s one or two pairs of White Park cattle were imported to Canada. Their offspring eventually made its way to the Bronx Zoo. A tale persists that these cattle were taken out of Britain to America to save a national treasure. Sources vary on their views of this events with some stating it was purely a business transaction. Shortly after receiving the White Park cattle, the Bronx Zoo determined they did not have facilities to house the wild cattle for the long term. The zoo contacted the King Ranch and a deal was made which allowed four of the animals to be moved to Texas where they remained for nearly 40 years. When the White Park herd was to be sold it was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. John Moeckly of Polk City, Iowa. In the 1970's, White Park cattle were imported to both Canada and the US and semen from Dynevr bulls has been imported to both countries also. In 1988 a small portion of the herd was sold to the Seed Saver's Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. Shortly hereafter all but a few old cows were sold to the B-Bar ranch in Big Timber, Montana, along with the White Park registry. The last remnant of the herd, made up of the aged females, was sold to Mark Fields of Clark, Missouri. In 1995 there were five herds across North America. Currently the breed is found in Britain, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Australia and Canada. The current status of the White Park is Critical with a breeding population of less than 50 animals in the US and a worldwide population, including its homeland of Great Britain, of approximately 500 purebred females in 79 herds, plus bulls and young stock. The White Park cattle in the United States have been DNA typed for purity and to determine the best breeding plan possible to save its genetic base. An on-going breeding program has been put into place to help ensure the breed's survival. The White Park is genetically far distant from all British breeds and this has been established by blood typing. The breeds that appear to be most closely related to the White Park are the Highland and Galloway of Scotland. The White Park is a medium-size animal with mature bulls in working condition weighing approximately 2100 pounds and cows 1400 pounds. Their value in the beef industry lies in the high quality of their meat and in their great genetic distance from other breeds which will increase the heterosis effects in crossbreeding systems. For More Information: Ancient White Park Cattle Society of North America, 1273 Otter Creek Road, Big Timber, M [Oklahoma State University]