Beef

Galloways produce exceptionally lean and flavorful meat, with carcass dressed weights well in excess of 60 percent of live weight. Naturally lean but well marbeled and high in omega 3 content.

Due to the breed's naturally dense, insulating hair coat the Galloway does not layer on excessive outside fat, which is generally discarded at slaughter time from other breeds.

This breed is extremely efficient in utilizing feed. These cattle will graze and gain on almost any type of feed. A top daily gain on a Galloway Steer is around 2-2..5 lbs vs a commercial steer gaining 4.5-5 lbs, however the Galloway will consume significantly less feed.

History

First recorded history indicates that they developed the breed during the 16th Century in the former Galloway district of Scotland, a rugged and hilly seacoast region where hardiness was necessary for survival.

These shaggy-coated, polled cattle are considered to have evolved from an early Celtic breed before they were further developed in Scotland.

The heritage of these cattle has conditioned them to survive in harsh climates and many breeders and enthusiasts love the thrify, medium fram animals and realize they earn their share in any herd

Although it is impossible to affirm with certainty whether Belted Galloways were bred from cattle imported to Britain or native cattle, or a combination of the two, the logical conclusion is that they originated from a cross of Black Galloways with Dutch Belted. Though no documentary evidence is available to substantiate the assumption, the known prepotency of the Dutch cattle lends weight to this view, and the frequent traffickings between Scotland and the Low Countries in the 17th and 18th Centuries would provide opportunities for the importation of a few Dutch Belted cattle. The horns, the only essential difference, would disappear with the predominance of Galloway blood.

- An Illustrated History of Belted Cattle

Characteristics

The breed is very docile yet courageous. The cows are known as easy calvers while the calves themselves are hardy, vigorous and have a 'will to live' that gets them up and nursing quickly. The Galloway is long-lived, with many cows producing regularly into their teens and beyond.

Galloway cattle can be found in many different colors including, black, red, dun, or white. They can be a solid color or commonly have black, red or dun with a white middle that makes them more commonly known as ‘Belties’

Galloways are typically late maturing (Bulls will mature around 5 years of age and cows around 3 years of age).