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Straight Furrow : April 27th 2011
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Straight Furrow • April 26, 2011 GALLOWAYFOCUS 12 THE Galloway bull, like its female counterpart, is strong, placid, and pro- duces vigorous calves with a "will to live". Galloways are valued for com- mercial cross-breeding. Because they've been purebred through- out their history and are geneti- cally distant from other breeds, they have pre-potency and stamp their offspring with breed charac- teristics. Galloway Cattle Society of NZ Inc secretary/treasurer Jill Hopping farms 12 Belted Galloways (Belties) on 8ha (20 acres) on the Thames Coast. Jill said Galloways were suitable to be crossed with any dairy cow, and their excellent traits made them a very popular choice. "Last season, we struggled to keep up with demand for bulls." Galloway bulls impart hybrid vigour to any cross. Cross-bred steers have the added length, depth and width characteristics of the Galloway. The Galloway bull is the most strongly polled of cattle, and was used after World War II to create the polled Hereford breed. Longhorn cows bred to a Galloway bull will produce polled calves. He is gentle; the mild demeanour of the Galloway is leg- endary. The Galloway bull is known to be so gentle that famil- iar humans can pat him on his flanks. Rugged terrain and harsh envi- ronments is no match for his rock hard hooves and strong, stout legs. Jill said this was one particular trait she looked for in a stud. "The countryside where we live is harsh, so good feet and legs are very important. They also do well on poor quality feed." The Galloway bull was highly fertile. "In a field of cows he will be the first jumping and riding; they are prolific breeders," Jill said. She said an excellent trait of the Galloway was easy calving. Calves were moderate in size with light birth weights (average 75-80lb) and required little or no birthing assistance, in any crossbreeding environment. "As they are traditional British cattle, they have small shoulders which allow for easy birth," she said. High calf sur vival rates are syn- onymous with the Galloway bull; they throw thick, healthy calves. Galloway calves, either pure or crossbred, are hardy, vigorous and have a "will to live" that gets them up and nursing quickly. Whilst small at birth, they grow rapidly on their mother's milk, then on pasture or in a feedlot. Any cross-bred animals are raised as "beefies" -- Galloways are slow-maturing and have lovely marbling, ideal for beef steaks. anne.boswell@ruralpress.com Strong bulls with mild demeanour By ANNE BOSWELL Galloway bulls impart hybrid vigour to any cross. Use the Straight Furrow to promote your LIVESTOCK Contact Paula Holmes on 07 838 6204 ALCLUTHA GALLOWAYS Pure bred Standard and White Galloways Bulls, heifers and weaner calves available; enquiries welcome www.alcluthagalloways.co.nz John and Ruth Berridge, RD4 Albany Phone: 09 426 1421 Galloway Cattle Society members Skean Dhu Belted Galloways And Fordel Galloways Quality stock occasionally for sale Visitors Welcome Carole & Warren Millar Brookside - Leeston Ph: (03) 329 1800 www.gallowaycattle.co.nz glamisstud@xtra.co.nz W W Tuibrook Galloways o ow m o mo o m o o & m o o mo o o om John Taylor R.D 3 Isla Bank Otautau Ph: 03 236 2708 or 027 437 211 BELTIE WEANER CALVES FOR SALE 1 b/w bull calf, 1 b/w heifer Both will be registered, plus 1 commercial grade dun/white heifer. SOUTHERN CROSS BELTIES Masterton Ph: 021 946 690 Email: kevin@hollywood.co.nz
Links
anne.boswell@ruralpress.com
www.alcluthagalloways.co.nz
www.gallowaycattle.co.nz
glamisstud@xtra.co.nz
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