GALLOWAY CATTLE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 81, 29 December 1937, Page 3

GALLOWAY CATTLE

Possible Benefits Breed Would Confer in N.Z. HARDY AND CH0ICE Prominent in the beef breeds of the 1 world is the Galloway, which, although unknown to New Zealand, is renowned for its hardiness and its ability toward early maturity. Its exeellent quality . receives the highest commendation of Smithfield. Thriving on very rugged country makes it highly adaptable to the hinterland of New Zealand, and its introduction by an enterprising breeder would be followed with possibilities that miglit lead to a new era in cattleraising in this country. A prominent Poverty Bay cattlemnn, who recently returned from a trip to Great Britain, stated that he was profoundly. impressed with the Galloway cattle that he saw exhibited at the leading shows. and he considered that they would be ideal for much of the difiicult country in New Zealand where at present no cattle are being grazed. All Black and Hornless. Like the Aberdeen Angus, the Galloway is all black and hornless, being slightly smaller in carcase. For a vigorous constitution it is unequallcd, and to the Galloway the dreaded T.B. disease is practically unknown. The breed is exceptional in that in-breeding has never been used to fix its type, thus there is no rislc of it losing its robustness. This hardy and impressive breed of polled cattle toolc its name from the province of Galloway, having been developed in the wet and hilly southwest of Scotland. The country in question lies to the west of a line drawn from Glasgow to Carlisle on the j English border. The same breed of cattle has also been kept in Cumberland, the most north-westerly county of England. The Galloway is admitted to be the most hardy among British breeds of cattle. Wintered in the ■ open air, it has always been exceptionally vigorous. Being raised in a severe climate its resistance to wet is equalled only "by the West Highland cattle. Abroad in some extremely cold climates, the Galloway has proved superior owing to the horns of the Highland cattle being subject to frost-bito. Thrift on Rough Grazlng. The Galloway is a thrilty feeder, and, like tlie liiguiana cattle, us 1 greutest useiulnesa is in convertmg into beef tne fierbage of wiid anu rough grazmgs wiiere other cattle breeds would xail to lind subsistence. All black in colour, the coat of the Galloway is very characteristic. It is made up of long, wavy hairs forming an outer protecuon to an inner soft, mossy coat. The head is short and broad, the poll being less pointed than in the Aberdeen Angus. The ear is broad, low set and oovered with long hair. In respect of proportion of dead weight to live weignt, the Galloway kills unusually well. It produces beef of superlative qkality and flavour, a fact which is proved by its fiue record at Smithfield 's, where it has been outstanding among the fine breeds for carcases. Alike in respect of colour, absence of horns and general outline and. symmetry, offspring from cows of other breeds by Galloway bulls closely rcsemble the black Galloway poll. The 'cows are good milkers, and, when crossed with the white Shorthorn, they produce the Galloway blue-grey, which is also a superior feeder. The ability of freeing their progeny from horns is a reinarkable feature. Eor highly decorative qualities, combiued with a high degree of utility, the Belted Galloway, wl\ich .is noted for the wide white band around its body, has no compeer, lending a fine touch of colour to an otherwise dull landscape. An introduction of Galloway cattle into New Zealand for grazing on the difiicult country for which they are well suited would be followed with keen interest by cattlemen.