Monday, January 31, 2011

More about Galloways

Belted Galloways on pasture
Galloway cattle are noticeably more furry than other breeds except Highlanders.  They do well in cold weather without needing to put on a thick layer of fat for warmth.  The breed is known for it's ability to grow well on grass alone.  Galloways come in black, red, or dun.  They can be belted or, more commonly, solid. 
Example of a white Galloway






A more unusual pattern for Galloway cattle is white with black points.  This similarity with White Parks has led to speculation that there may be some Galloway blood in the formation of the American Brisish White Park genetics.  I'm a big fan of the white color pattern, and from the start, Galloways were in the running for my foundation stock at Bluestem Farm. 
Catalina at Bluestem Farm














Catalina, my new half-belted Galloway (that is she is a beltie that only shows the belt on her left side) will be bred this summer to the same White Park bulls as the rest of the herd.  In a generation or two, I hope to see some white, black-pointed offspring from her, too.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen,

I really enjoyed your post. I'm a fan of Belted Galloways, and have painted them quite a few times over the years, but I've never seen a "white" Galloway. And the "half-belt" intrigues me, as well.

There are some Highlanders nearby but I'm yet to paint them. I always come back to the "belties."

By the way, I love the photo of the cat in the tree. It's great!

Anonymous said...

Kare,
just catching up with email and blogs after returning from Fla. Really enjoy your updates.
GRW

Bluestem Farm said...

Thanks for your comments, Dad and Brian! Feel free to paint any of my critters!