History of the Breed

Origin

The exact origin and birthplace of the Whitebred Shorthorn is not known, but it is known that it aroused interest in the Border country over 100 years ago when the breed was referred to as the Cumberland White.

One of the early pioneers and founders of the breed was Mr David Hall of Larriston, Newcastleton Roxburghshire, who, along with Mr Andrew Park of Stelshaw, Bailey, Cumberland sold Blue-grey suckled calves at Newcastleton suckler sales way back in the late 19th Century.

These two breeders had found the Bluegrey's to be fast maturing cattle valued highly be feeders of beef.

These popular Blue-grey cattle were the product of the crossing of the hardy Galloway cow with the Whitebred Shorthorn Bull many of which came from Cumberland.

Early Whitebred Shorthorn Sales

In the early 1900’s, owners, offering Bluegreys for sale at the Newcastleton suckler sales brought along the odd Whitebred bull, which followed the Bluegreys into the ring to be sold.

Newcastleton Whitebred Shorthorn Sale

As entries increased, a decision was taken to sell the White cattle immediately following the Bluegrey sale, but even this arrangement failed to cope with the escalating entries, as the popularity and demand for these cattle soared. The system eventually got out of hand which necessitated a special day being allocated specifically for the sale of Whitebred Shorthorn cattle.

Official Association sales were held at Newcastleton and Bellingham in Autumn 1964 with catalogues produced for each sale.

The first show and sale at Carlisle was held in Spring 1965 with George Mitchinson and George Walton acting as judges.

Judging Whitebred Shorthorns at Botchergate Mart, Carlisle

Formation of the Whitebred Shorthorn Association

It became increasingly obvious that the cross between the hardy Galloway cow and the Whitebred Shorthorn bull was producing fast maturing store cattle and it became essential that these quick maturing characteristics in existing breeds of hill cattle be developed.

T. Roland Johnson

Eric Stokoe

In order to preserve the identity of the Whitebred Shorthorn, a meeting of interested parties together with JE Campion, GH Barnes, SAC Oliver and AD Tweddle who were advisory representatives from MAFF. was held on Monday 18th December 1961, at Greenhead Hotel in Northumberland, where it was decided to consider the formation of a breed society.

At a public meeting in Greenhead Hotel on 12th March 1962, almost 200 interested breeders voted overwhelmingly to form The Whitebred Shorthorn Association.

The first Council was elected under the Chairmanship of Roland Johnson with John Kirkpatrick (Auctioneer) as Vice Chairman.

Eric Stokoe, a cashier with Harrison & Hetherington Ltd., Auctioneers, was invited to take on the Secretarial duties of the Association.

First Council of Management

T. R. Johnson, Limestonebrae, Carrshield, Hexham, Northumberland (Chairman)
J. Kirkpatrick, 6 Whiteclosegate, Carlisle, Cumberland (Vice-Chairman)
J. S. Arres, Lustruther, Hawick, Roxburghshire
J. Armstrong, Carrick, Elsdon, Newcastle on Tyne.
G. L. Bell, Broomholmshields, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
A. Beattie, Park House, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire
J. Calvert, Greensburn, West Hall, Brampton, Cumberland
R. Dodd, Gilbert House, Moffat, Dumfriesshire
D. Dargue, Smardale Hall, Kirkby Stephen, Cumberland
R. D. Forster, Hassendean, Hawick, Roxburghshire
J. Graham, Raeburn, Longtown, Cumberland
J. Henderson, Murtholm, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
J. Harrison, Aimshaugh, Alston, Cumberland
T. N. Hill, Clea Hall, Wigton, Cumberland
R. Hedley, Flatt, Newcastleton, Roxburghshire
J. Ions, Thorneyburn, Falstone, Hexham, Northumberland
E. Jeffrey, Standburn, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
F. Lee, Ninebanks, Whitfield, Hexham, Northumberland
G. Mitchinson, Gallowberry, Kirkcambeck, Brampton, Cumberland
J. G. Nixon Hallees Longtown, Cumberland
J. E. Nixon, Goatstones, Simonburn, Hexham, Northumberland
W. Noble, Old Irvine, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire
J. Oliver Cawfields, Haltwhistle, Northumberland
R. C. Robinson Askerton Castle Brampton, Cumberland
T. H. Smith Cleugh Head, Brampton, Cumberland
J. Telford, Holmehead, Roadhead, Carlisle, Cumberland
W. Tully, Sewingshields, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Northumberland
R. N. Waugh, Row, Roadhead, Carlisle, Cumberland
T. M. Waugh, Eskin, Wythop, Cockermouth, Cumberland
G. D. Walton, Allensgreen, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland

Past Chairmen of the Association
T R Johnson 1962 – 1964
J Kirkpatrick 1964 – 1966
T H Smith 1966 – 1968
R C Robinson 1968 -1970
R P Johnson Fergusson 1970 – 1972
G L Bell 1972 – 1974
T N Hill 1974 – 1976
P M Gordon 1976 – 1978
H C Johnson 1978 – 1980
J Tailford 1980 -1982
R B Hope 1982 – 1984
I C Robinson 1984 -1986
G Bell 1986 – 1988
W Wallace 1988 -1990
K Laurie 1990 – 1992
J Whitfield 1992 – 1994
B Hough 1994 – 1996
A Roskell 1996 – 1998
G Bell 1998 – 2000
J Christie 2000 – 2004
G Bell 2004 – 2006

After cattle had been inspected from 134 herds, 2310 males and 506 females were entered in the first herdbook.

Askerton Castle Open Day

On Tuesday 21st September 1965, the Association held its first open day at Askerton Castle, Brampton in Cumberland by kind permission of Mr R C Robinson a member of the Council.

Representatives from Farmers Weekly, Cumberland News, Farmers Guardian, Border TV and the Tyne Tees Farming Outlook programme were in attendance.

Over 100 breeders attended together with other interested parties to Whitebred Shorthorn bulls and females paraded followed by their Blue-grey progeny.

Mr John Kirkpatrick, the then, Chairman of the Association is quoted as saying;
"There was a big demand for the Blue-Grey at sales in Haltwhistle and Newcastleton and breeders had to provide what the public wanted. The Blue Grey was the ideal suckler cow for the marginal farm and could be crossed with any beef bull without loosing its hardiness."

Mr Roland Johnson, first Chairman of the Association said;
"Border farmers had bred the White Shorthorns for many years without any book data at all, but the Ministry of Agriculture was anxious that a herd book should be compiled in case, at some future date, the general bull licence was discontinued. If there were no general bull licence, we would be automatically cut out."

Animals from three breeders were on view. Bulls included two from G Mitchinson & Sons, Gallowberry, Kirkcambeck - the 6 year old stock bull Gallowberry Merical and the August '64 born Gallowberry Monarch. Mr Robinson paraded Lordstown Lad, a son of Holmhead Rocket and Askerton Statesman an October '64 son of Askerton Baron. G Tailford & Sons, Rinnion Hills, West Hall, exhibited Rinnion Hills Duke a homebred yearling by Rinnion hills Pioneer.

Askerton Castle Cows & Calves

Broomholmshiels Demonstration

A demonstration of Whitebred Shorthorns was held at Broomholmshiels, Langholm in Dumfriesshire on Saturday 5th October 1968 by permission of G L Bell.

Cowbyers Demonstration

A demonstration was held at Cowbyers Farm, Blanchland in County Durham on 19th September 1974 with cattle from Peter Gordon, Grange of Tundergarth, Lockerbie and Robin Hope, Winterhope, Waterbeck, Lockerbie on view.

Information for the above has been extracted from the Association Minute Book and scrapbooks provided by members, special thanks to Ian Robinson Esq., for his contribution. Further details will be added to this page when available.

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