Belted galloway?

[angus kid]

I am looking for a new heifer and i have began thinking about breeds. I have known about belties for a while but never occurred to me to include them as a possibility. I have a smaller plot of land which she would stay on which is why belties came to mind. I was wondering what people thought of them and if they would be a good fit for my needs? Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kfacres]

pm llBux

 

[angus kid]

I dont think that i got your pm?

 

[kfacres]

I dont think that i got your pm?

no- you need to pm a guy on here under the name llBux , or atleast i think that's his username...

Do a search for belted galloway-- and he will pop up right off the bat.

 

[LLBUX]

Check your PM's

I love my Belties.  They are easy doing cattle that actually do best on high roughage rations.

I get calls and emails weekly from folks wanting Belties.  The demand exceeds supply.  Cattle are still affordable.

Not a lot of kids showing Belties, but there are some wonderful programs and rewards for those that do.

I'm working to get a Beltie breed show at the Illinois State Fair and am receiving lots of contributions for the kids.

If you want a heifer, I'll be glad to help you find one.    I found two very nice show-quality heifers yesterday.

Good luck!

 

[LLBUX]

There are some shows coming up here in the Illinois area that will showcase some very good Belties.

July 7, Pecatonica, IL    Blow and go
August 8, Illinois State Fair          Inaugural attempt at a show, may have enough for a breed show, may show with AOB's
Late September  World Beef Expo
November-  Louisville NAILE

 

[angus kid]

Alright thanks. I will try and check some of those out. World you recommend belites over a breed such as herefords?

 

[LLBUX]

It is all personal preference.    Haven't owned any Hereford so I cannot speak for them. 

Belties are a moderately-framed breed and are considered to be one of the hardier breeds.
Beltie beef is very well accepted and works well in grass-fed operations.
Calving problems are almost unheard of in Belted cattle.  60-70 pound calves are average.
Very low incidence of pinkeye or cancer eye as you find in some other breeds.
No dehorning.

I get calls each week from folks looking for Beltie cattle and have already bought/sold cattle in Iowa, IL. MO, South Carolina/California and Pennsylvania.    Belties are a niche breed with very good demand.

 

[angus kid]

Thank you for your information. It has been very helpful in trying to figure out what breed of animal to purchase

 

[wyatt]

i would prefer any beef breed over herfs. jmo tho everyones is different... except the mini herfs those make good weeders for the rock garden haha  (lol)

and if your wanting to cross up clubbies your belties will give you better hair quality

 

[okiegirl]

As a huge bonus Galloways are know for their great disposition!!

 

[obie105]

I love my herfs. They are also known for their disposition. It is your personal preference tho. Everyone on here is going yo tell you that their breed is better than the other one. When I was learning about cattle I did some basic research oklahoma state university has tons of breed informationso you can see which breed will fit with what you want to do. A simple google search will also do quite a bit for you.

 

[wyatt]

I love my herfs. They are also known for their disposition. It is your personal preference tho. Everyone on here is going yo tell you that their breed is better than the other one. When I was learning about cattle I did some basic research oklahoma state university has tons of breed informationso you can see which breed will fit with what you want to do. A simple google search will also do quite a bit for you.

true ... alot of times what people grow up around is often what they will raise kinda like if your dad raised angus cow most of your cows would probably be based off of that herd

 

[MOClubbyGuy]

As a huge bonus Galloways are know for their great disposition!!

Not the ones that I have got. I picked the 2 that we have up very reasonable to use as recip cows and they are very high strung and are destine for the salebarn once I get them bred but maybe I got the rejects when it comes to good disposition.

 

[HAB]

As a huge bonus Galloways are know for their great disposition!!

Not the ones that I have got. I picked the 2 that we have up very reasonable to use as recip cows and they are very high strung and are destine for the salebarn once I get them bred but maybe I got the rejects when it comes to good disposition.

Are you talking belteds, or actual Galloways?

 

[LLBUX]

How many times were they put through a chute to sync them and then implant embryos?

How well-designed are the handling facilities?

Were they handled slowly and calmly?

Many things enter into the equation regarding disposition. 
 
These cows could have been mistreated or ignored and left to fend for themselves.(prior to your ownership)

Treat them right and cows (Belted or Galloway, or any breed) usually will be easy handling and very docile.

Good luck-

 

[MOClubbyGuy]

Oh i totally agree that a calf/cow/bull acts like it is treated. If you are pushing hard and fast, they are alot more timid and hard to work with. We handle these cows just like we do our AI cows, easy and calm. They are just try to cut corners and head for the hills. Working facilities are practical functional corral catch pen with tub and alley going to a squeeze chute. Cows are fed in catch area daily so they are very use to it. We have not used them yet for embryos and the ways it looking, probably will not. Dont get me wrong, cows are exceptional mothers. They are Belted Galloways

 

[HAB]

Oh i totally agree that a calf/cow/bull acts like it is treated. If you are pushing hard and fast, they are alot more timid and hard to work with. We handle these cows just like we do our AI cows, easy and calm. They are just try to cut corners and head for the hills. Working facilities are practical functional corral catch pen with tub and alley going to a squeeze chute. Cows are fed in catch area daily so they are very use to it. We have not used them yet for embryos and the ways it looking, probably will not. Dont get me wrong, cows are exceptional mothers. They are Belted Galloways

I agree with LLBUX statement also.

I can also say that after having been around Galloway, Belted Galloway, and White Galloway for over 30 years, that more often than not, the ones with temperment issues have a white band around the middle.  I think some of this probably comes from their owners not knowing how to handle them., or cull them when they need to be.  I am sure I will catch some flack for stating this, but it is my honest opinion.

 

[LLBUX]

If those Belted cows have papers you should have no trouble finding them a home.  I'd be glad to try and help you out there.

By your post I understand that you haven't had them very long.
As I mentioned above, maybe the former owner did not have the know-how or facilities to handle them quietly and calmly. 
That can turn them into excitable animals that will seek the shortcuts and avoid the chute.

Through my 45 years of showing cattle, I have seen individuals of many breeds that were plumb nuts. 
 
I will state though, I have never seen a Beltie that was not above average in docility.
They have been very easy to work with for me in my short period of ownership of Belted cattle.
It was a major factor in selecting a breed for my son to show.

 

[Aussie]

Disclamer This point is from what I see in my state it may or not apply in the US. The major problem I have seen with Belties is feet. Woeful feet because cattle are selected for an even band rather than good structure by people with a few acre's and no back ground in cattle. The breed seems to attract these people. The breed society could do more work with its members on breeding sound cattle IMO. Saying that I have seen some great Angus cross win carcase comps.