Anyone Raise Galloways?

[sweetwaterbob]

We raise primarily belted Galloways. They're percentage stock, but high percentage (98 and higher). Just curious if there were any others here. We'd like to find some registered breed stock.

Our herd bull, Jack, did just fine last year and he's still young yet. He's got excellent temperment too so we're not looking to replace him yet, but just trying to generate some relationships for future endeavors.

Even after 4 years we still haven't figured out yet if we want to get into the show ring, but our location is ideal with the NWSS and all. We're still in the beef market and Galloways finish well.

Thoughts/comments?

[goatlady]

I think those "Oreo" cows are cool! Had in friend in Western SD who had a small herd, but mainly cause black and white was his thing - cows, horses, dogs, chickens, trucks and house!

[basempires]

I raise belties. Justed started the herd 2 years ago. Will be going into the offseason with 17 registered heifers. Our herd sire is a lowline/beltie cross.

[genebo]

Sweetwaterbob,

Here's a good site to read what to look for in your bull or when buying a bull:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agricultur...ural-soundness

Note the pictures of feet and legs, they're so important to good animal health. Cattle with poor feet don't feed well and may not have a long, healthy life.

The bull is the most important member of a breeding herd. Every calf you produce gets half it's genes from the bull. Any defect in the bull can spread rapidly among your calves.

Don't get me wrong, the cow is important, too. But she only affects her own calf each year.

Once you have a really good bull and some really good cows, you're well on your way to producing good breeding stock. All that's lacking is a good culling program to refine your herd.

Good luck with your endeavors. Belties are a popular breed. They should be easy to sell. I know a beef farmer who has one beltie just for ornamental purpose, so people riding by will look.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

SweetwaterBob, do you specialty-market?

[ufo_chris]

I thought a dutch belted was a 'beltie'? So Galloways are belties ,or only with that coloration?
I love the looks of them but DH didn't so I got Highlands.
Chris

[sweetwaterbob]

Originally Posted by RedDirt Cowgirl

SweetwaterBob, do you specialty-market?

We direct sell. Word of mouth. Usually have a waiting list so far.

[Cheryl aka JM]

Well I don't know that i'm who your looking to ask~ but I am doing some galloway and I'm just so very proud of my cows I love a chance to show a picture! I couldn't find a bull so a neighbor who wasn't sure he wanted to sell this bull but was sure he didn't want to feed him last winter loaned me this bull


I also bought this heifer from the same man (I know not the best example but she is pretty and healthy)


I bought her already pregnant by a black angus bull, but she has had that calf and I'm hoping the galloway bull will get her bred back before someone buys him. He has already gotten calves on my two Holstein/jersey cross heifers that I am expecting to calve July/august.

I believe the gentleman who loaned me the Galloway bull has now decided to sell him~ so if your looking for a not registered bull in north Alabama I can put you into contact with the owner (hopefully my cow will be bred before he goes though!)

[taterwayne]

Nice cows Cherly....how much does he want for the bull ???

[springvalley]

Originally Posted by ufo_chris

I thought a dutch belted was a 'beltie'? So Galloways are belties ,or only with that coloration?
I love the looks of them but DH didn't so I got Highlands.
Chris

The Dutch belted is the dairy version of the belted Galloway, I have had neighbors that raised them both. The one with the Galloways has retired and sold the farm now , so his cattle are gone. But they were nice cattle, and great to work with. > Thanks Marc

[genebo]

Read about the breed at:

http://139.78.104.1/breeds/cattle/beltedgalloway/

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[Cheryl aka JM]

Originally Posted by taterwayne

Nice cows Cherly....how much does he want for the bull ???

He offered to sell him to me for $850 last August, but I couldn't afford him so he sold me the less expensive belted heifer and loaned me the bull. He's not someone I talk to on a daily basis, he is the neighbor of a friend and I"ve only actually talked to him a couple times in the almost year I've had the bull. He's a really nice guy~ loaned me the bull without really knowing me at all, then when my friend told him my hip was broken last month he misunderstood, thought she said I broke his bulls hip....nice guy looked nonplussed for a minute and then said "Well I guess we're having BBQ". As I hear it he was very relieved to hear the bull was fine it was MY hip that was broken! LOL!

I can find contact info for him if you wanting the bull, or if your wanting to look at him first let me know and i'll give you my address to come look at him, he's still in my pasture.

[CarolT]

He sold off his other bulls, so the price may have gone up Cheryl LOL He's in no rush to breed more right now, so not worried about getting the fellow back too soon. And I haven't talked to him lately, so things may have changed yet again...

[Cheryl aka JM]

I hadn't thought of that Carol. Carol is the friend who lives next to the nice man who loaned me the bull~ she's the one who actually knows the gentleman.

[Cheribelle]

Not a Galloway, but I did get a Buelingo heifer last year. I only have a couple at any one time, and this way if she gets out, I figure all the neighbors will know which one is mine! I once had a black steer get out, along with some of the neighbor's also black. Poor guy spent a LONG time trying to get this One ornery one to go the right direction..... Until DH got out there and said, Ummm, that one is Cheri's.....