The Speckle Park is a modern Canadian
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
beef cattle. It was developed in the Canadian province of
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
from 1959, by
cross-breeding stock of the British
Aberdeen Angus
The Aberdeen Angus, sometimes simply Angus, is a Scottish breed of small beef cattle. It derives from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine and Angus in north-eastern Scotland. In 2018 the breed accounted for over 17 ...
and
Shorthorn breeds; the spotted or speckled pattern for which it is named derived from a single bull with the
colour-pointed markings of the British
White Park. It is one of only a few
beef cattle breeds developed in Canada.
The Speckle Park was officially recognised as an 'evolving breed' in 1995, and received full 'distinct breed' recognition from the Canadian government in 2006. Some have been exported to Australia, to Ireland and to the United Kingdom.
Numbers are low, and in Canada it is an
endangered breed.
History
The Speckle Park was developed in the Canadian province of
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
from 1959, by
cross-breeding stock of the British
Aberdeen Angus
The Aberdeen Angus, sometimes simply Angus, is a Scottish breed of small beef cattle. It derives from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine and Angus in north-eastern Scotland. In 2018 the breed accounted for over 17 ...
and
Shorthorn breeds; the spotted or speckled pattern for which it is named derived from a single bull with the
colour-pointed markings of the British
White Park.
A
breed association Breed clubs are associations or clubs with activities centered on a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of animal and the goals and needs of the members o ...
, the Canadian Speckle Park Association, was formed in 1985. In 1995 the
byelaws of the association received ministerial approval and the Speckle Park was officially recognised as an 'evolving breed'. It received full 'distinct breed' recognition from the Canadian government in 2006.
Some have been exported to Australia, to Ireland and to the United Kingdom.
In 2020 the Canadian population of the cattle was reported to
DAD-IS at just over 1400 head; in 2021 the
conservation status
The conservation status of a group of organisms (for instance, a species) indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation ...
of the breed was reported as "at risk/endangered".
Characteristics
Canadian Speckle Park is so named because of the colour pattern of the cattle. They are most often
colour-sided
Colour-sided or lineback is a type of fur pattern in domesticated cattle.
It consists of any solid body colour (such as black, red, or brindle) with white finching along the spine, along the underbelly, and over the tail, head, and legs. The ...
, black with white spine and underbelly, with speckling to the hips and shoulders. They may also be colour-pointed, white with black points (''i.e.'', black nose, ears and feet); or, less commonly, solid black.
See also
*
Hays Converter
The Hays Converter is a breed of cattle native specifically to Alberta, Canada. Named for Harry Hays, the agriculturalist and politician who developed the breed, it was the first pure breed of cattle created in Canada. Work on breeding the Hays Con ...
*
Canadienne cattle
Canadienne cattle, also known as Black Canadienne, French Canadienne, and Black Jersey, are the only breed of dairy cattle developed in Canada. They originated in the 16th century, when French settlers brought cattle over for foundation stock to ...
References
{{reflist, refs=
[Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016)]
''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''
(sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN, 9781780647944.
[Breed data sheet: Speckle Park / Canada (Cattle)]
Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2021.
[Breed data sheet: Speckle Park / Australia (Cattle)]
Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2021.
[Breed data sheet: Speckle Park / Ireland (Cattle)]
Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2021.
[Breed data sheet: Speckle Park / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Cattle)]
Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2021.
[Carol Ekarius (2008). ''Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Pigs''. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. {{isbn, 9781603420365]
[Kim Woods (28 January 2009)]
''The Weekly Times
The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd (HWT) is a newspaper publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. It is owned and operated by News Pty Ltd, which as News Ltd, purchased the HWT in 1987.
Newspapers
The HWT's newspaper interests date b ...
''. Archived 6 July 2011.
Cattle breeds
Cattle breeds originating in Canada