Belted Galloways

[Woolless]

I have finally given in to pester power from the kids and the first bovines I've ever owned are now on farm: three nice heifer calves still on milk. I have a stage two in mind for the cattle project already and I'm now having fun considering all the options for stage three!

Which brings me to the point. I have twice recently been offered Beltie heifers for what appears to be very reasonable money, so a few queries for those in the know, @Old Tip @JP1 and anyone else:

• Our place is certainly exposed but grazing quality is reasonable. We certainly don't have proper hill ground. Would they get too fat? Better off with a better performing cow in their place?
• What bulls work well with them? Whitebred Shorthorn, presumably. AA or Hereford? Anything else?
• Are cross calves with belts penalised?
• Any other advice?

 

[JP1]

Happy to chat anytime

You can manage heifers getting overfat.

WBS over belted isn't ideal (same with red cows), folks want and pay for a tradtional blue grey by a WBS over a solid black Galloway.

Be very careful with anything seemingly too cheap as it may be for a reason (progeny not registrable, white back foot etc)

PM me and I'm happy to help especially if it's for the kids

 

[Woolless]

Happy to chat anytime

You can manage heifers getting overfat.

WBS over belted isn't ideal (same with red cows), folks want and pay for a tradtional blue grey by a WBS over a solid black Galloway.

Be very careful with anything seemingly too cheap as it may be for a reason (progeny not registrable, white back foot etc)

PM me and I'm happy to help especially if it's for the kids

The heifers I heard about today aren't registered and to be honest I'm not too bothered by that. I just wondered whether if I could get them for handy money, would they make a decent low-maintenance suckler cow for me?

Temperament has always been a concern of mine with Galloways. Are Belties any different? I think the two lots I've been offered have been well handled.

 

[JP1]

The heifers I heard about today aren't registered and to be honest I'm not too bothered by that. I just wondered whether if I could get them for handy money, would they make a decent low-maintenance suckler cow for me?

Temperament has always been a concern of mine with Galloways. Are Belties any different? I think the two lots I've been offered have been well handled.

As long as you're not fussed about every registering, that's not a problem and will affect value. You can tell pretty quick about the nervousness type of temperament. If they skit to the back of the group and always have their heads facing you, I'd walk away. Made that mistake before. I don't see they have any worse temperament than any other breed in this respect, hill cattle with low human interaction can be like that. You won't know how maternal they are until you calve them. I'd happily take your children (and mine) through any of my cattle

All Galloways under the colour skin are the same and I think they are the optimum hardy hill cow and low grade forage converter

 

[Old Tip]

I"ve had most types of Galloways and as JP says they can be reasonably docile or plain mad, lot depends on how they have been brought up but they def have a stubborn temperament. they cross well with most native breed bulls but the whitebred would be my first choice as you have a good outlet for the heifers and the bullocks fatten off fresh air and are fantastic eating

 

[twizzel]

We put a Galloway x Lim steer in the freezer last Christmas, the meat was fantastic

 

[unlacedgecko]

What size is a “proper” black Galloway?

 

[JP1]

What size is a “proper” black Galloway?

A proper Black Galloway these days can be any size from the wee hill cows with a big forage belly to some that are now trying to rival Canadian Angus at 700-800kg cows with tight gut

 

[Highland Mule]

What size is a “proper” black Galloway?

140kg a side @28 months.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

There will be experts on genetics but my understanding is the belt gene is dominant so you nearly always get a calf with a belt no matter what the sire might be.
We breed pedigree Black and Red beltie but the best looking beltie crosses I have seen are red limousin and the result is what looks like a red beltie on steroids.

 

[Woolless]

There will be experts on genetics but my understanding is the belt gene is dominant so you nearly always get a calf with a belt no matter what the sire might be.
We breed pedigree Black and Red beltie but the best looking beltie crosses I have seen are red limousin and the result is what looks like a red beltie on steroids.

Hmm, I'm sure the calves are good but I don't think I'm brave enough to put a Lim over a Galloway!

 

[Old Tip]

Hmm, I'm sure the calves are good but I don't think I'm brave enough to put a Lim over a Galloway!

I did it once, say no more

 

[JP1]

Super Stonehouse red Belted Galloway heifer calf posted on FB today

 

[Stw88]

We bull 60 galloways with the limmy and 60 first cross limmys back to the limmy. Great cows far better than blue greys in calf quality and like peas in a pod. Tempriment is all how you handle them. If looked after you can get a great stirk at 7-8mth old off a galloway.

 

[newbie_smallholder]

Is it possible for a belted galloway to get too fat? We are trying to convert standard perennial rye grass leys to more species rich grassland and have a very low density of belted galloways to help. They are starting to look like something from a thelwell cartoon... or pregnant (they are definitely bullocks!)

 

[Old Tip]

Is it possible for a belted galloway to get too fat? We are trying to convert standard perennial rye grass leys to more species rich grassland and have a very low density of belted galloways to help. They are starting to look like something from a thelwell cartoon... or pregnant (they are definitely bullocks!)

They do carry more gut than some breeds as they are designed to convert grass into beef, main thing to watch the tail head and brisket. You definitely want a good fat covering but not a butter ball, once they have a good cover of fat on the tail head they are ready to go, a wobbly tail head and a big solid brisket means they are probably a bit to fat.
photos would help