If Spring Comes . . .

our forlorn "Hard Winter Shed" may make it through another year. Somewhere in the back country of Montana where the little barn's geometry mirrors the slopes and valleys of its surroundings.

Ancient White Park Cattle

This beef breed is listed as "critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. However, today, dedicated breeders are working toward expanding its numbers and suitability for small operations that practice sustainable, low input management and prefer producing grassfed beef, such as Bar-B Ranch, Big Timber, MT.  Once a dual purpose breed of the British Isles, the Ancient White Park has followed a colorful pathway toward its North American history, including the Bronx Zoo in New York City and the King Ranch of Texas. 

Characteristics include the distinctive black nose. Hair coats may exhibit subtle blue or red "points" or tips. Oddly, blood-typing reveals it is most closely related to the Highland and Galloway breeds of the UK and not the other white British breeds, the British White or American White Park. 

Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana.

There are several associations and registries devoted to white-coated cattle from the British Isles. Origins are Ireland, Wales, and Great Britain over the centuries from Roman times. Development covers decades.

Breeders insist the different origins are quite distinct and that these white-haired cattle should be considered unrelated despite the similarity in phenotype. For more information, here are the addresses and websites. . . . 

American British White Park Association

P O Box 409

Myerstown, PA   17067

http://www.whitecattle.org

White Park Cattle Association of America

419 North Water Street

Madrid, Iowa  50516

       or

Ancient White Park Cattle Society of North America

1273 Otter Creek Road

Big Timber, MT 59011

British White Cattle Association of America

P O Box 281

Bells, TX   75414-0281

http://www.britishwhite.org

One Summer Evening . . .

this array presented itself for us, enjoying it from our deck. Fortunately, we had film in the camera to capture this scene for, in the years intervening, it has never been repeated. Likely, atmospheric conditions and the sun's angle meshed to put on the show for this evening and the evening that followed. I suspect the sun's rays were shining through one or more monoliths, those towering, isolated outcroppings rock climbers call "chimneys" over in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness of Idaho.