Smith Farm's Ponca City British White Cattle - Ponca City News

Paige and Martin Smith own and operate the Smith Farm's British White Cattle operation in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The Smiths currently have 15 head of registered American British White cattle: cows, heifers, steers, and a bull. British Whites are a gentle and docile breed of cattle.

Doc, the bull on the farm, has a gentle disposition and likes to be scratched and petted; however, one never wants to underestimate the size and strength of cattle.

The history of this breed is curiously interesting. In 1919, the first British White Park Registry Association was formed in England. In 1940, one bull and five cows were sent to the United States as seedstock in the event of a Nazi invasion of England. These six registered, fullblood British White cattle went to live at the Pennsylvania State Prison Farm to preserve the breed. In the early 1960s, all British White Park cattle in the custody of the U.S. Government were sold to the public. In 1990, there were only 1,500 registered American British White cattle in the United States; now, there are over 5,000. The British White Cattle Association of America, LTD is located in Pequot, Minnesota.

British Whites are a dualpurpose breed: they can be milked; however, milk production quantity is no match with a dairy breed. Additionally, they can be used as beef cattle. Smith is a USDA licensed distributor to sell meat to the public: British White meat is flavorful and has a rich texture. With the size of Smith's herd at this point, he is limited in the quantity of beef available for purchase.

American British White cattle do not have certain medical issues like other breeds; their black ears, eyes, muzzle, teats and hooves reduce or eliminate the problems associated with pinkeye, cancer eye, sun burned udders or feet. They tolerate the varied temperatures of the cold in the northern states and the warmer climate in the southern states. Smith uses no antibiotics or hormones in raising his cattle because, on the whole, this breed is very healthy.

Smith has British White full blood and American full bloods. The organization starts registering at halfbloods. While the majority of British White cattle are white, Smith has a red tip British White cow (think cows with large red "freckles.") She is a third generation full -blood British White: only 5% of the British Whites are red-tipped.

In addition to selling USDA beef, Smith has some heifers for sale to people wanting to increase their herd size or to start a herd of American British Whites. For more information on the breed, poncachief53@gmail. com is the best contact.

Smith grew up in the Marland area; his dad worked on John Eaton's dairy farm. Smith retired from the Ponca City Fire Department in 1995 as fire chief after 25 years of service. His wife Paige has taught in the Ponca City School district for 29 years.