The Canadian Speckle Park cattle or simply Speckle Park is a beautiful breed of cattle native to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is a beef cattle breed and mainly raised for meat production.
And it is one of only a few meat cattle breeds developed in Canada. As the name suggests, the Canadian Speckle Park cattle are a truly Canadian breed developed from the Aberdeen Angus, Teeswater Shorthorn and British cattle with the white park pattern.
The breed was named “Speckle Park” by Bill and Eillen Lamont. Both parts of the name refer to the color pattern.
“Speckle” was used because of the spots throughout the rear quarters. And “Park” was obvious because some of the animals display the white park color pattern of a white body with colored points about the eyes, muzzle, ears, lower legs and teats.
The park derives from the characteristic black, white and grey spots and patches of color that the breed is known for.
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle breed is one of the newest cattle breeds having been officially recognized by the Canadian Government in 2006. And a breed association was formed named the Speckle Park Breeders Association by the representatives of nine herds in 1985.
This association was created with the intent to develop a new breed. But it was later renamed as “The Canadian Speckle Park Association“. However, review more information about this cattle breed below.
Canadian Speckle Park Cattle Characteristics
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle are medium sized animals, and they inherit many of the characteristics of popular cattle like the Angus. The breed is named so mainly because of the color pattern.
Speckled is for the spots in the rear quarters and throughout the body. And Park is for the color around the eyes, ears, muzzle, teats and lower legs.
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle have white lines on their backs and underbellies (except for the solid color pattern). There are more colored spots around the hips and shoulders in the classic speckle pattern, with a generally black or black roan face.
Characteristics of the leopard pattern is white with small black spots. Genetically the leopard patterns and classic speckle patterns are same, and result from the combination of the solid gene and the White Park gene.
The pattern of white with black points shows a mostly white animal with black around the ears, eyes, muzzle, lower legs and hooves, and is produced by the dominant gene.
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle herds also have solid colored offspring. The breed may also have red speckle patterns, because the recessive red gene may be seen in both patterns. The breed is naturally polled.
The mature Canadian Speckle Park bulls on average weight about 900 kg. And average body weight of the mature cows is about 550 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle breed was developed as a meat cattle breed. And they are now used for beef production.
Special Notes
Canadian Speckle Park cattle are beautiful animals with distinctive color patterns. They are very hardy and well adapted to the cold winters of Canada as well as the heat of summer.
The calves are smaller in size when born, which ensure easy calving. And the breed rarely experience calving difficulty. The cows are very protective mothers and take good care of their calves.
The Canadian Speckle Park cattle cross well on almost every breed of cattle and show every indication of contributing hybrid vigor.
In case of temperament, the Canadian Speckle Park cattle are relatively quiet animals and very easily manageable. Review full breed profile of this breed in the following table.
| Breed Name | Canadian Speckle Park |
| Other Name | Speckle Park |
| Breed Purpose | Meat |
| Special Notes | Hardy, fast growers, easy to care, calm |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Bulls | About 900 kg |
| Cows | About 550 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Vary/Mixed |
| Horned | Polled |
| Milk Yield | Poor |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Canada |
