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Listen to some music while watching the cows!
What happened here???
The Belted Galloway...An Old Scottish Breed
The unique appearance of Belted Galloway cattle inspires many questions about their origins. With black, red or dun color sandwiched about a white middle, they are familiarly known as 'Belties' among breeders of the animals. Though references to 'sheeted' cattle occur in literature and art as early as the 11th Century, the Belted Galloway's first recorded history indicates that they developed during the 16th Century in the former Galloway district of Scotland, a rugged and hilly seacoast region where hardiness was necessary for survival.
The British Isles then and now raised solid-colored, polled, shaggy-coated Galloway cattle generally considered to have evolved from an early Celtic breed. Precisely when and where selective breeding of the Belted variety of Galloway began is shrouded in mystery, though theories abound.
In our Herd Book Volume I early U.S. breeder Mims Wilkinson, Jr. wrote, "It has been stated by some authorities that belted, or sheeted, cattle in England go back to the age of Charles II, although they are first mentioned in Scotland in the latter part of the 18th Century. The polled characteristic of Galloways sets them apart from every other breed, they being derived from the original British polled cattle of antiquity.
"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.
"There is little doubt that the cattle of the ancient Celtic people of Britain were predominantly black and that the Highland, Galloway and Welsh black are derived from the same stock, which has become diversified through time by selection and environment.
"In the Galloway cattle there were originally various markings and colors Click for larger image.[with] the polled characteristic, the coat, the conformation and the fine carcass quality setting them apart from other breeds. Galloways originally were black, spotted, white-faced, red, dun, white and belted.
"Although the white belt is a dominant genetic trait, occasionally solid black calves are born now in belted herds, and belted calves are born in Black Galloway herds."
Mr. Wilkinson cited as authorities for the above paragraphs Lord David Stuart's 1970 publication, An Illustrated History of Belted Cattle; and George Culley's 1786 treatise, Observations on Livestock.
Early standards for the breed remain valid today, except that the body should have less depth and the legs be longer than formerly. Lord Stuart's interesting book included this description: "The cattle of the breed are of typical beef conformation. A good head, especially in bulls, is considered important, and this should be broad with the crown low and flat. The nostrils should be wide and the eyes large and prominent; the ears moderate in length, broad, pointing forwards and upwards with a fringe of long hair. The neck should be fairly long and fit well into the shoulders.
"The body should be deep and full through the heart with a level top and straight underline; the shoulders fine and straight; the breast full and deep, with the ribs well sprung; the hindquarters long. The flank should be deep and full. The thighs should be deep and fairly straight; the legs short and clean with fine bone, and the tail well set on.
"The skin should be mellow and moderately thick, covered with soft, wavy hair with a mossy undercoat. The coat is most important, as it protects the animal. Hard, wiry hair with no undercoat is objectionable, and so is a jet black coat. This should be black with a brownish tinge."
Weights for mature Belted Galloways in North America vary in accordance with their environment. In general, the mature Belted Galloway bull at age 5 weighs within the 1800-lb. to 2000-lb. range, though balance and conformation should be considered before mature weight. There are some very fine bulls producing excellent progeny whose mature weights are less than 1800 lbs.
The Belted Galloway heifer is generally bred at age 14 to 18 months, with many breeders electing to breed at 700 to 800 lbs. without regard to months of age. The mature Beltie cow at age 3 or 4 averages 1100 to 1300 lbs. She can be expected to annually produce a healthy calf well into her teen years. At birth bull calves usually weigh 70 to 80 lbs., heifer calves about 10 lbs. less.
The Beltie as a beef animal produces exceptionally lean and flavorful meat, with carcass dressed weights well in excess of 60 percent of live weight. Winter warmth is provided by the double coat of hair, rather than the layer of backfat most breeds require. The Belted Galloways' heritage has conditioned them to survive in very harsh climates, and U.S. breeders have discovered that the thrifty, medium-sized animals more than earn their way in any beef herd.
Also known as Oreo's, can you see the resemblance?
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RT Camelot Belted Galloway
Scroll to the bottom to view Belted Galloway cattle for sale!
All of the animals at RT Camelot Ranch are raised as natural as possible, with no drugs or hormones, and all natural grass. The grass available is of high quality, and the animals put on a healthy amount of weight with no supplements. In the winter, only the highest quality natural grass is fed to maintain their weight and health, which makes for a happy herd. Clean stream water is available most of the time, otherwise fresh well water is offered. We spend a lot of time with all of our animals, and it shows in the quality and character of each of them. All of our Belted Galloways are registered and 100% pure bred.
Here is a very good looking 100% purebred registered black and white bull calf, RT's Ferdinand of Camelot Ranch. Sire: Herdquarters Winchester. Dam: Aten's Betty. SOLD!!!
Here is a good looking 100% purebred registered young bull calf, RT's Tommy of Camelot, DOB 9/15/2012. He won't be ready to go for a few more months, but we will accept a deposit to reserve him. Sire: Hedrquarters Winchester. Dam: Silver Sage Michelle. SOLD!!!
Here is nicely belted 100% purebred registered young heifer, RT's Markie of Camelot, DOB 10/7/2012. She won't be ready to go for awhile yet, but we will accept a deposit to reserve her. Great lineage, a fine addition to any herd. Sire: Herdquarters Winchester. Dam: Atens Tulip. SOLD!!!
Here is another nice 100% purebred registered heifer calf, RT's Roselin of Camelot, DOB 6/12/2012. She is almost ready to be weaned, she should be ready to go by the end of December. Sire: Herdquarters Winchester. Dam: Silver Sage Mary. SOLD!!!
Here we have a beautiful 100% purebred registered Belted Galloway cow, 3 year old Aten's Betty, with a 100% purebred calf at her side, Annie Oakley. Annie was born 12/13/2013, and is a beautiful girl. This is Betty's second calf, and she has calved easily and is a great mother! Offering as a pair.
Sire: Rousseau Farm Diesel (2008 Grand Champion)
Dam: Aten's Kylie Angel SOLD!!!
Here is a great looking young 100% purebred registered Belted Galloway bull calf, Mad Mike. He is wormed, weaned and ready to go. He has a great looking belt, and has a great lineage. His mother is a red & white, so he can improve your chance of adding a little color to your herd! The first picture is from his first weeks, the second and third are him at almost 4 months, showing some great lines! He is standing next to his sire. The red cow is his dam, the black bull in the last picture is his sire.
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Askey's Emily SOLD!!!
Here is a link to the CLCR to view our pedigree's
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Proud members of the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation!
This is Elsie, a fine looking 100% purebred heifer born 6/18/2013.Though she is a great looking heifer with a nice belt, please note that she does have white on her back feet.
Sire: HHW Winchester
Dam: Aten's Kelsey SOLD!!!
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Here is Stormy, a nice looking 100% purbred heifer born 8/5/2013. She has a great belt, and comes from a red Dam, so you can increase your odds of adding a little color to your herd!
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Askey's Emma SOLD!!!
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Introducing Calamity Jane, a sweet little 100% purebred registered Belted Galloway calf. She was born 12/26/2013, and is a little sweetheart!
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Silver Sage Michelle SOLD!!!
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This is Dusty Roads, our newest young bull calf. He is 100% purebred, and is already showing great lines. He was born 3/1/2014.
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Sweet Oreo SOLD!!!
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Here is RT's Squirrly Shirley of Camelot, a great looking young heifer born 3/16/2014. She is 100% purebred, and registered!
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Nedeline SOLD!!!
This fine looking young bull is RT's Tumbleweed of Camelot. He was born 5/8/2014, has great looking lines and a nice belt. He is 100% purebred and registered, his sire is a Red & White Belted.
Sire: RT's Red Bull of Camelot
Dam: RT's Alley Oop of Camelot
SOLD!!!
This beautiful little girl is RT's Apache Rose of Camelot. Her mother is a nice AI Dun with Anderson Hill and Clanfingon Australian bloodlines. She was born 5/16/2014, and is 100% purebred and registered.
Sire: RT's Red Bull of Camelot
Dam: FSB First Zady SOLD!!!
This is RT's Marie of Camelot, a fine looking young heifer. She was born 5/20/2014, is 100% purebred and registered, and her dam is a Red & White Belted.
Sire: HHQ Winchester
Dam: Askeys Emily SOLD!!!
This is RT's Cherokee of Camelot, a wonderful young heifer. She was born 6/20/2014, is 100% purebred and registered. Her sire is a Red & White Belted.
Sire: RT's Red Bull of Camelot
Dam: RT's Mable of Camelot
SOLD!!!
