Canadian Speckle Park
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Speckle Park is a breed of cattle
native to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
. It is one of only a few beef cattle
breeds developed in Canada. The latter half of the breed's name derives from the characteristic white, black and grey spots and patches of color that it's known for.
The Canadian Speckle Park is one of the newest cattle breeds, having been officially recognized by the Canadian government in 2006. A breed association was formed in 1985, and exports of Canadian Speckle Park to the U.S. and Australia have occurred.
Work on breeding the Canadian Speckle Park began in the 1950s with the crossing of an crossbred heifer
of roan Shorthorn
descent to a Black Angus bull. The spotting became a dominant trait in the offspring, and the beginnings of a new breed emerged. Descended solely from British beef breeds, it is naturally polled
and inherits many of the characteristics of popular cattle like the Angus.
, Aberdeen Angus
, and an English breed with a white park pattern. Mary Lindsay began producing speckled cattle when she crossed a red roan cow and a bull with a white park pattern. These offspring were always speckled, and in 1959, Lindsay sold a heifer
to Bill and Eillen Lamont of Saskatchewan, who began using speckled cows in their herd. When crossed with Black Angus bulls, these cows produced offspring with a speckled pattern. These offspring were successful beef cattle, and the next step was to develop this handful of cattle into a recognized breed. In 1985, representatives of nine herds gathered together to form the Speckle Park Breeders Association. Created with the intent to develop a new breed, this association was later renamed The Canadian Speckle Park Association. In 1993, the association was incorporated under the Canadian Animal Pedigree Act so a breed could be developed, and in 1995 the first bylaws were passed. Finally, in 2006, Canadian Speckle Park was granted full breed status.
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
native to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. It is one of only a few beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
breeds developed in Canada. The latter half of the breed's name derives from the characteristic white, black and grey spots and patches of color that it's known for.
The Canadian Speckle Park is one of the newest cattle breeds, having been officially recognized by the Canadian government in 2006. A breed association was formed in 1985, and exports of Canadian Speckle Park to the U.S. and Australia have occurred.
Work on breeding the Canadian Speckle Park began in the 1950s with the crossing of an crossbred heifer
Heifer
Heifer may refer to:*A young cow before she has had her first calf*Red Heifer, in Judaism is a heifer that is sacrificed and whose ashes are used for the ritual purification*Heifer International, a charitable organization...
of roan Shorthorn
Shorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
descent to a Black Angus bull. The spotting became a dominant trait in the offspring, and the beginnings of a new breed emerged. Descended solely from British beef breeds, it is naturally polled
Polled livestock
Polled livestock are livestock without horns, of species that normally have them. The term refers both to breeds or strains which are naturally polled through selective breeding and also to naturally horned animals which have been dehorned...
and inherits many of the characteristics of popular cattle like the Angus.
Breed history
Canadian Speckle Park is a truly Canadian breed developed from three British breeds: Teeswater ShorthornShorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
, Aberdeen Angus
Angus cattle
Angus cattle are a breed of cattle much used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world....
, and an English breed with a white park pattern. Mary Lindsay began producing speckled cattle when she crossed a red roan cow and a bull with a white park pattern. These offspring were always speckled, and in 1959, Lindsay sold a heifer
Heifer
Heifer may refer to:*A young cow before she has had her first calf*Red Heifer, in Judaism is a heifer that is sacrificed and whose ashes are used for the ritual purification*Heifer International, a charitable organization...
to Bill and Eillen Lamont of Saskatchewan, who began using speckled cows in their herd. When crossed with Black Angus bulls, these cows produced offspring with a speckled pattern. These offspring were successful beef cattle, and the next step was to develop this handful of cattle into a recognized breed. In 1985, representatives of nine herds gathered together to form the Speckle Park Breeders Association. Created with the intent to develop a new breed, this association was later renamed The Canadian Speckle Park Association. In 1993, the association was incorporated under the Canadian Animal Pedigree Act so a breed could be developed, and in 1995 the first bylaws were passed. Finally, in 2006, Canadian Speckle Park was granted full breed status.