The Belted Galloway cattle
Galloway cattle
The Galloway is one of the world's longest established breeds of beef cattle, named after the Galloway region of Scotland, where it originated, during the 17th century. It is now found in many parts of the world, being exported to Canada in 1853, the US in 1882 and Australia in 1951. The b…
What do Belted Galloways eat?
Belted Galloways are primarily a pastured beef breed. They are evolved to digest grass and hay, and although they will grow on corn or grains, there is no need to feed it.
Are Belted Galloway cattle good for meat?
The Belted Galloway cattle breed has a good quality of meat with a good marbling, tender and succulent. Their meat is low in saturated fat, are slow growers but produce a very fine quality of tasty meat. Meat Production? Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide.
Do Belted Galloways need to be baled?
Belted Galloways are primarily a pastured beef breed. They are evolved to digest grass and hay, and although they will grow on corn or grains, there is no need to feed it. As a farmer, baling or even buying organic or non-sprayed hay is easier than trying to find and pay for organic grain.
Are Belted Galloways good for vegetation control?
Belted Galloways are by and large bred for their “marbled” beef and sometimes for their milk. However, some people keep Belted Galloways for other purposes, one of which is vegetation control.
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Do Belted Galloways make good pets?
Small-Farm Favorites Though the breed is not well-suited to feedlots, they are ideal animals for the small family farm and the lifestyle of country living. The breed's moderate size, docile temperament, easy calving and good mothering are characteristics they value.
Are Belted Galloways good beef cattle?
Belted Galloway beef is exceptionally tender, full of flavour and juicy and were the winners of the 2003 Sydney Royal Show "Beef Taste Test". Data collected in the U.S. has shown that the beef dresses out at 60 - 62% of live weight making it a very profitable breed.
How much are Belted Galloways worth?
A prime cow without registration could cost you around $1000, a registered bull could be anywhere from $4000 upwards and a newly weaned calf several hundreds of dollars. Before you rush off to the sale yard there are several things you might want to consider first.
Are Belted Galloways rare?
Belted Galloway Cattle Remain Rare.
Can you milk Belted Galloway?
And while the breed is predominantly used for beef, the Belted Galloway is a dual-purpose breed. The generally docile nature of Belted Galloways means that it's possible to use them for dairy purposes, and the breed produces very rich milk.
How tall do Belted Galloways get?
The hair of the Galloway is long, waved, and shaggy and the ears have, characteristic for the breed, long hair growing inside. Galoway cows have an average height of 120 cm and weigh 450-590 kg; bulls average 135 cm and weigh 600-900 kg. The animals are thrifty and fertile.
Can you butcher a lactating cow?
It's not uncommon for dairy cows to be slaughtered while carrying calves because their job demands that they are perpetually pregnant so that they produce milk, said Amber Canavan, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Any cow that's not profitable can be killed at any stage,” she said.
What are Belted Galloways used for?
Belted Galloways are primarily raised for their quality marbled beef, although they are sometimes milked and purchased to adorn pastures due to their striking appearance.
How many Belted Galloways are in the US?
It is listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as a "recovering" breed, which means there are more than 2,500 annual registrations in the United States and a global population greater than 10,000, but they were once on the "watch" list.
What climate do Belted Galloway cattle prefer?
The Belted Galloway is well adapted to cold, rugged climates; as part of this adaptation, the cattle grow a shaggy hair coat in the winter. In the summer, Belted Galloways shed this coat and tolerate warm climates better than most other cold-adapted cattle.
What breed of cow looks like an Oreo?
Belted GallowaysBelted Galloways are often called “Belties” or “Oreo Cows” from their broad solid white stripe around their center against the rest of their black color. Today Aldermere cattle have a national reputation for excellent stock.
What does Belted Galloway taste like?
Flavor Profile : Clean, Clover, Olive, Fruity, Rich, Bright. hints of olive and clover.
What are Belted Galloways used for?
Belted Galloways are primarily raised for their quality marbled beef, although they are sometimes milked and purchased to adorn pastures due to their striking appearance.
Can you eat Belted Galloway?
They have a high dress-out ratio - Due to the short legs and long coat, at processing, they often yield over 60% usable meat for the hanging weight. Pasturing the breed easily makes for easier marketing of healthy lean delicious beef.
What is the tallest beef cattle breed?
The ChianinaThe Chianina is both the tallest and the heaviest breed of cattle. Mature bulls stand up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in), and oxen may reach 2 m (6 ft 7 in). It is not unusual for bulls to exceed 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) in weight. Males standing over 1.51 m (4 ft 11 in) at 12 months are considered top-grade.
What climate do Belted Galloway cattle prefer?
The Belted Galloway is well adapted to cold, rugged climates; as part of this adaptation, the cattle grow a shaggy hair coat in the winter. In the summer, Belted Galloways shed this coat and tolerate warm climates better than most other cold-adapted cattle.
How to prepare a feed program for an animal for show or sale?
In preparing a feed program for an animal for show or sale you should first determine what its feed requirements will be from the list of priorities. Then look at its present fleshing conditions and compare this to the time you have to your goal date.
Why is trust important in cattle?
TRUST is the most important factor here to end up with a quiet, well trained animal. Most cattle have the temperament for achieving this, but some are just too scatty, and probably shouldn't be bred with, let alone broken in.
How long before moving can you cut grain ration?
Three days before you move, cut the grain ration in half and feed hay free choice. This will harden the manure up so they won’t get dirty travelling. Cut the water off 2 hours before moving because they travel easier when their stomach isn’t full.
What is a belted galloway?
Belted Galloway Cattle breed is a medium breed of cattle with a fuzzy hairy coat and a curly or wavy fringe. They have a small well filled out face with black ears, nose, and legs. They have a long square frame with their necks generally in line with their spine. Their legs are short and beefy with fluffy hair covering their thighs.
Where did the Belted Galloway originate?
The Belted Galloway’s origin is not exactly known but it is thought that they were derived from the crossing of the Dutch Belted (Lakenvelder) cattle breed. The Dun and Belted Galloway herd-book/Association was started in Scotland in 1921.
What is the most marketable breed of cattle?
General Information: The most marketable of all the Belted Galloway cattle breeds are the ones that are top coat is completely black and only their bellies are white with no other white marking anywhere not even on their legs, feet, head or tail. The Belted Galloway cattle breed are a smaller strain of the Galloway cattle breed ...
When was the Belted Galloway introduced?
The Belted Galloway cattle breed were first introduced to America in 1951 by Mrs. McLean of East Kortright, New York. And the American Belted Galloway Breeders Society was formed on the 1 July 1951 by Harry A. Prock of Pennsylvania. This society is now known as “The US Belted Galloway Society Inc.
When did the Belted Galloway Society change its name?
The name of the organization was changed to Belted Galloway Society in 1951 and the Dun cattle were no longer registered. The Belted Galloway Society keeps stringent records of all the Belted Galloway cattle pedigrees as well as the oversees White and Red Galloway registrations.
Do cattle produce milk?
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. The Belted Galloway cows are fertile, good maternal instincts and have easy calving. They do not produce a lot of milk only enough for calving.
Is Belted Galloway good?
The Belted Galloway cattle breed has a good quality of meat with a good marbling, tender and succulent. Their meat is low in saturated fat, are slow growers but produce a very fine quality of tasty meat.
What is a belted galloway?
The Belted Galloway is a very distinctive breed with its characteristic white belt which encircles the body, the rest of the body being black, dun or red in colour. The distinctive white belt found in Belted Galloways often varies somewhat in width and regularity but usually covers most of the body from the shoulders to the hooks.
How much does a galloway weigh?
A mature Belted Galloway Bull can weigh between 815 and 955 kilograms although some are smaller and others larger. A cow ranges from 400 to 600 kilograms, new born heifers weigh, on average around 30 kilograms and a bull calf can be 35 kilograms and sometimes more.
Why are belted galloway cattle resistant to pink eye?
Belted Galloway breeders find that their cattle are more resist ant to pink eye, insects and foot problems than many other breeds.
How many hairs does a galloway cow have?
The Belted Galloway cow has about 4000 hairs to the square inch making the coat resistant to severe cold. Meat. Belted Galloway Beef has been shown in a research study conducted at the University of Guelph - to have a total fat content of about 2% an extremely low percentage.
What is the name of the breed of cattle that was important to the Scots?
Ortelius, the historian writing in 1573, says, "In Carrick (then part of Galloway) are oxen of large size, whose flesh is tender, sweet and juicy.". The Galloway breed of cattle became important during the Scoto-Saxon period, and the breeders of Galloway enjoyed the export of cheese and hides. Later the cattle were sold in considerable numbers ...
Which breed of cattle consumes the least amount of feed per kilogram of weight gain?
Tests have shown that the Galloway requires the least amount of feed per kilogram of weight gain making the cattle efficient converters. Belted Galloways consume more varieties of flora than any other breed on tests conducted in Germany
When was the Belted Galloway introduced?
The Belted Galloway is essentially the same in origin and characteristics as the Galloway and only differ by the distininctve white belt that is thought to have been introduced by an infusion of Dutch Lakenvelder blood, probably in the seventeenth or eighteenth century, according to "History of the Belted Galloway Society Inc.".
Why raise belted galloways?
10 Reasons to Raise Belties on a Small Farm. Belted Galloways are primarily a pastured beef breed. They are evolved to digest grass and hay, and although they will grow on corn or grains, there is no need to feed it. As a farmer, baling or even buying organic or non-sprayed hay is easier than trying to find and pay for organic grain.
Is a calves a good stock raiser?
This makes these a good choice for a less experienced stock raiser. Calves are strong and vigorous, nursing readily, and growing fast. They are extremely cold hardy due to their thick long coat. This makes housing them more affordable and simple.
Do belted galloway sheep need shelter?
They usually just require a shelter from the wind, and studies have show them healthier in the outdoor environment in the winter. The long thick coat and thick hide is another product to bring income to your farm. I still chuckle at the rug for sale called "Larry" I saw on an Australian Belted Galloway farmers website.
Why are belted galloways used as dairy cows?
Belted Galloways are often used as dairy cows due to their docile nature and compliance with the process. Cheese products being particularly popular from as early as the 12th Century. Their beef has also been likened in quality to that of the prized Wagyu Beef the Japanese love so much. Due to the good forage conversion, Belties are often used to rehabilitate poor quality pastures in a system known as Restoration Agriculture. They also make great house cows or hobby farm type pets.
What breed of calf is a Belted Galloway?
Belted Galloway are well known for their ease of calving producing a live calf every year. The “Beltie” Breed is naturally polled and when crossed with another breed it will prevent the growth of horns in virtually all cases. We have experimented with a Wagyu Heifer and frequently suggest to first time breeders to use Beltie Bulls for their first calving heifers due to the low birth weights. This trait is very important in birthing and helps the new mother to pass the calf. Belted Galloways rarely need birthing assistance and prefer to go off alone and birth in private.
How long do galloways live?
The Belted Galloway is an extremely fertile breed; the cows are long-lived (some up to 20 years), regular breeders, and are noted for their ability to produce a healthy, well-nourished calf at weaning, even in the harshest of conditions. The fertility cycle is 21 days approximately and they do well both under Artificial Insemination and Natural Increase. Some Belted Galloways have had two separate calves in one year. One cow in Australia has even produced three lots of twins in a row. Strong hybrid vigor due to the purity of the breed means they rarely miss a calving year.
Do galloways have mothers?
Belted Galloways cows generally make excellent mothers. They are protective of their calves and each other. We have often witnessed one cow minding several calves while the other mothers are off feeding or drinking. A Belted Galloway Cow will drink twice as much as normal when feeding her calf and can easily be taught to allow the farmer the first 2-3 Litres of milk each day while still supporting a healthy calf. The cows are renowned for their mothering ability, producing enough rich milk to wean a large and healthy calf at around 205 days. The maternal attributes of the Galloway cow come out tops in a study at the famous Clay Animal Research Center, Nebraska, USA. Eleven breed groups were tested for their ability to give birth and rear their calves.
Is Belted Galloway beef healthy?
In addition, it showed that Belted Galloway beef had the same fat content as chicken and fish so it fits in well with a healthy diet. Belted Galloway beef is exceptionally tender, full of flavour and juicy and were the winners of the 2003 Sydney Royal Show “Beef Taste Test”.
Do Belted Galloway cattle have birth defects?
They respond well to organic methods of animal husbandry as well as the typical commercial operations . They generally have fewer birth defects as well.
Do belted galloways have personality?
Belted Galloway breeders find that Belted Galloway possess a quiet disposition and are easily handled when managed properly. They do have personality though like most animals and respond well to routine.
What is a belted galloway?
Belted Galloway Beef. The unique appearance of the Belted Galloway attracts many new enthusiasts to the breed. In time, breeders who purchased cattle for their ornamental qualities are delighted to learn that they produce lean, high quality beef. Many Belted Galloway breeders have waiting lists for their freezer beef.
How much weight can a galloway steer gain?
Many Belted Galloway breeders have waiting lists for their freezer beef. Commercial steers can gain as high as 4.5 to 5 pounds per day when grained.