LLOYDMINSTER – Speckle Park cattle could become a recognized breed in Canada within the year, says Battlefords, Sask., rancher Ed Smith.
Smith, a member of the Canadian Speckle Park Association with his wife Kathy, has been involved with this evolving breed for 25 years.
The association has 1,500 head registered and its members participate successfully in numerous cattle shows like the Stockade Round Up in October.
“We’ve shown them enough that people know them,” said Smith, who noted the animals’ distinctive specks of black and white can also be seen mixed into many commercial herds.
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The breed started in the mid 1950s with Bill Lamont, a rancher from Maidstone, Sask. He found an animal with a specific colour pattern that also produced good tasting meat.
The breeding trials have included crosses with Aberdeen-Angus, Shorthorns, Scottish Highlands and a few Jerseys.
“Bill had a vision of making a Canadian breed of cattle to live in our environment,” said Smith, who shared that vision and acquired animals from Lamont.
The Smiths have worked at raising these animals to a consistent standard and conformation in hopes of producing one of the few Canadian-grown cattle breeds.
“We bought a piece of the dream,” said Smith.
After 50 years as an evolving breed, the association applied for status in July and is now anxiously awaiting the breed registry’s response.
The process requires breeders to document parentage, submit test records and present a consistency of conformation and characteristics over many generations.
Smith said there are many advantages for homegrown breeds.
“They’re hardy because they were developed right here,” said Smith.
Accepted colours are black with white, or white with black points on the ears, nose and lower legs. They can be marked like an Appaloosa horse or a leopard, he said.
Their black pigmentation means few sunburns on the udders, he said. They have many attributes, such as ease of calving and docile natures.
Most importantly, their feed conversion rates are at the top in feedlots, he said.
At bull test stations where 21 bulls were observed from 10 different consignors over a 10-year period, the Speckle Park had a feed conversion rate of seven pounds of feed for one pound of gain.
The average of all bulls over the last five years was eight, with the Speckle Park finishing at 7.6.
“We are trying to prove all of the growth rates are as good as other breeds,” Smith said.
Speckle Park produces high quality Triple A carcasses, which often bring premiums of up to $120 per animal.
Finished weights are around 1,100-1,200 lb., with carcass weights at 660 lb.
