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"Speckle Park" Cattle Catching On Fast
Speckle Park cattle have been in development for 46 years. In 2006, the Canadian government finally recognized it as a separate and distinct breed.
The Canadian Speckle Park Association has 71 active members. About 3,100 animals are registered.
The splashy black and white beef breed originated wit
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"Speckle Park" Cattle Catching On Fast LIVESTOCK Beef 31-2-10 Speckle Park cattle have been in development for 46 years. In 2006, the Canadian government finally recognized it as a separate and distinct breed.
The Canadian Speckle Park Association has 71 active members. About 3,100 animals are registered.
The splashy black and white beef breed originated with a herd of speckled cows near Greenstreet, Sask., that were bred from Shorthorn and White Park cattle. Speckled heifers were crossbred to Black Angus and, in the early 1960's, the Speckle Park breed was born.
The breed's offspring come in four different color patterns: (1) black sided with speckled hips, a white top and roan faces; (2) leopard spotted; (3) white with black points; (4) solid black animals (because the blacks don't display the breed's characteristic coat patterns, they're treated separately within the registry so that they can be retained for breeding).
Speckle Park cows are moderately sized at 1,200 to 1,400 lbs. The udder is well set and tight. Bulls average 2,000 to 2,200 lbs. Newborn calves average 70 to 75 lbs. and are said to be unusually vigorous.
The breed is polled and noted for fertility, calving ease and efficient, trouble-free maintenance. The black pigmentation around the eyes and teats of the udder markedly reduce the problems of pink eye and sunburned udders.
"The breed's number one strong point is their consistently high quality carcass and high marbling ability. Butchers are impressed with the fact that, unlike most breeds, Speckle Park are able to achieve AAA marbling without the thick layer of outer fat which usually accompanies an AAA carcass," says Rod Remin, president of the Canadian Speckle Park Association.
Out of 43 entries of various breeds, Speckle Park carcasses won first, third and fourth place at the 2006 Calgary Stampede Steer Carcass Competition.
Frozen embryos and semen are currently being exported to Australia. Prior to the BSE crises, some registered Speckle Park were exported to Oregon.
Speckle Park semen is available from Independent Breeders, Airdrie, Alberta. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Canadian Speckle Park Association, P. O. Box 5032, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada T7X 3A2 (ph 780 934-6682; fax 780 962-9437;
cspa@telus.net; www.specklepark.ca).
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