Nov2011_Beautiful Belties
Meet George I. The first full blood Belted Galloway calf born at the Bella Vista Belted Galloway Stud at Mt. Samson. The breeders, Dr Bill and Janine De Maria, said that the breed started in the unforgiving hills of the Galloway area of south-west Scotland. The breed was around 400 years ago, starting from the crossing of the Galloway with the Dutch Laken elder.
The "Beltie" is naturally polled and has striking colourings of black, red or dun, with a white belt. For sheer eye appeal, no breed is more distinctive in the paddock and the term "beautiful Belties" is often used. The have a "double coat " of hair, consisting of a long, shaggy overcoat and a soft, thick undercoat, providing excellent insulation in cold, bleak weather and reducing the amount of feed intake required to maintain body weight.
Belted Galloways have a reputation for longevity – many are reputed to live until 17 to 20 years of age.
Hardiness
"Belties" are able to adapt to a variety of climatic conditions. They have good foraging abilities, ensuring that they thrive where other breeds fail.
The Belted Galloway is an extremely fertile breed; the cows are long lived, regular breeders and are noted for their ability to produce a healthy, well nourished calf at weaning, even in the harshest of conditions. Some Belted Galloways have had two separate calves in one year. One cow in Australia has even produced three lots of twins in a row.
Belted Galloways are known for their ease of calving producing a live calf every year. The cows are renowned for their mothering ability, producing enough rich milk to wean a large and healthy calf.
Tests have shown that the Galloway requires the least amount of feed per kilogram of weight gain making the cattle efficient converters.
Belted Galloways calve very easily and have a high calf survival rate and rebreed early.
A mature Belted Galloway Bull can weigh between 815 and 955 kilograms although some are smaller and others larger. A cow ranges from 400 to 600 kilograms, new born heifers weigh, on average around 30 kilograms and a bull calf can be 35 kilograms and sometimes more. "Beltie" calves weaned at 205 days, were about one half their mother’s weight.
George I is enjoying following his mother around the foothills of Mt. Samson.
Dr. Bill De Maria
Belted Galloways have a reputation for longevity – many are reputed to live until 17 to 20 years of age.
Hardiness
"Belties" are able to adapt to a variety of climatic conditions. They have good foraging abilities, ensuring that they thrive where other breeds fail.
The Belted Galloway is an extremely fertile breed; the cows are long lived, regular breeders and are noted for their ability to produce a healthy, well nourished calf at weaning, even in the harshest of conditions. Some Belted Galloways have had two separate calves in one year. One cow in Australia has even produced three lots of twins in a row.
Belted Galloways are known for their ease of calving producing a live calf every year. The cows are renowned for their mothering ability, producing enough rich milk to wean a large and healthy calf.
Tests have shown that the Galloway requires the least amount of feed per kilogram of weight gain making the cattle efficient converters.
Belted Galloways calve very easily and have a high calf survival rate and rebreed early.
A mature Belted Galloway Bull can weigh between 815 and 955 kilograms although some are smaller and others larger. A cow ranges from 400 to 600 kilograms, new born heifers weigh, on average around 30 kilograms and a bull calf can be 35 kilograms and sometimes more. "Beltie" calves weaned at 205 days, were about one half their mother’s weight.
George I is enjoying following his mother around the foothills of Mt. Samson.
Dr. Bill De Maria
