Unlike the Holstein which dairy farmers use for a milk cow, these are polled kine, and have no horns at all. In fact, crossing any other breed with the Belted Galloway is a good way to make sure the offspring don't have horns.

Even though the grown animals can weigh as much as a ton or more, they are small-framed cattle with a broad, flat head. The most noticeable thing about them, besides the white band around their middles, is how short their legs are. At the most their legs appear to be a mere two thirds as long as other cows of the same length. 

Belted Galloways originated in the suburbs of Scotland centuries ago.  They are bred for the mountains.  They are very sociable animals and don't mind your presence one bit. Wander in, and wander out and there won't be any fuss among them, but they displayed an obvious curiosity as to what we might be up to. Not even the flash of my camera disturbed them. 

They don't like being left alone either.  When a rancher put one mother in a stall by herself after she had a calf she went over the fence and back to the herd, leaving the calf behind.  Their social instincts are a survival factor. If a coyote get in amongst the herd they will surround him, then eliminate him.

Another survival factor is the coat of hair. Most other breeds of kine require a layer of backfat to keep them warm in winter. The Belted Galloway's double hair coat has about 4000 hairs to the square inch making the coat resistant to severe cold. Rain hardly ever penetrates the double coat even in cold, wet weather. That double coat reduces heat loss in the winter and winter feed costs are significantly less for the rancher. Nor are mosquitoes the bother to Belted Galloways in the summertime that other breeds experience. 

Click on the Pic to see if the moos have it.  
Photo is compliments of Donovan Callaghan 
and the real one is on display at  The Belted Galloway Society 

Did you notice that their heads are broad with the crown low and flat, kind of like they've been butting at stalled dump trucks? Their nostrils look extra wide and the eyes are definitely larger, while the ears look shorter than on most breeds I'm used to. The bodies are extra deep and full. Despite the appearance of extra length the back is straight from beginning to end, with no dip in the middle. 

Tests have proven the Galloway breed uses less feed per kilogram of weight gain than other breeds. They are willing to try most any kind of pasture you can provide and like buffalo they thrive on rough forage. 

Officially, the news gets even better. According to the Belted Galloway information page found at http://www.comnet.ca/~kslater/cattle.htm: 

• 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; 
•  The same study showed that the Belted Galloway Beef tested only contained about 1% saturated fat; 
•  In addition it showed that Belted Galloway beef had the same fat content as chicken and fish so fits in well with a healthy diet; 
• The beef is exceptionally tender, full of flavour and juicy; 
• 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; 
• The beef carcass is slightly smaller than many breeds and smaller carcasses are now in demand by consumers. 
• Belted Galloways are very hardy and disease resistant and can survive harsh climates; 
• The "Beltie" Breed is naturally polled and when crossed with another breed it will generally prevent the growth of horns in virtually all cases; 
• Belted Galloway breeders find that their cattle are more resistant to pink eye, insects and foot problems than many other breeds. 
• Belted Galloways have a reputation for longevity - many are reputed to live from 17 to 20 years of age; 
  

Belted Galloway cattle calve very easily, with a high calf survival rate and rebreed early.  Their milk supply is more than adequate to wean a large and healthy calf." (Bull calves can weigh as much as 80 pounds when they are born) 

It's enough to keep the dream alive.

Click HERE for FREE Videos of Belted Galloways

the end