News & Discussion
Important Information
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Annual Beltie Magazines
The Belted Galloway Society has produced full-color, 36- to 44-page magazines annually since 2004. An extracts from one of the publications is accessible below. Obtain copies of the most recent printed edition by sending a request with your snail mail address to the Executive Director at Email: executivedirector@beltie.org.
About attending cattle auctions ...
Do you enjoy attending auctions? You'll love Belted Galloway sales!
The longest-running sale in the country is being held this spring for the 17th consecutive year at Fryeburg, Maine. Another sale is scheduled to coincide with the Society's annual general meeting in Vermont this fall. From time to time you may see announcements of a dispersal sale or regional sale. Whether or not you're intending a purchase, we encourage you to attend these events. It's an enjoyable way to meet the breeders and to add to your education on the breed.
Most sales pre-qualify the consigned animals to insure quality offerings. Add to this the fact that most breeders wish to put their best foot forward at public sales, and you may be assured of finding some top-grade animals consigned.
If you attend a sale intending to purchase, do your homework first. It's all too easy at these fast-paced events to get caught up in a bidding frenzy and take home an animal that may not fit your breeding program. Sales are considered final when the gavel comes down and the auctioneer shouts, "Sold!"
Catalogs are published at least a month prior to the sale. Contact the sale organizer to place your name on the mailing list. Usually the catalog information will also be placed online and a lot list appears in the U.S. Beltie News. Keep an eye on the Beltie site www.beltie.org to locate consignment lists and photos.
The catalogs generally contain two generations of each animal's pedigree along with current information on weight, whether or not bred, and show history if any. If you would like to research further, contact the owner to obtain a copy of the full pedigree. The owner will also welcome calls asking for more details about his or her consigned offerings. You may wish to ask questions about an animal's breeding history, temperament and training, weights and measures, calves' birth weights, or for information on the dam and sire.
If you intend to bid, you must check in at the recorder's or sale secretary's desk on arrival. You will be asked for credit information before being issued a bidder's number.
Unable to attend but interested in one or more of the offerings? Most sales permit telephone bids. Ask the organizer prior to the sale for the phone number(s) and arrange your credit status in advance. Better still, you might locate someone attending who will be your "designated bidder."
You may plan to attend a sale hauling a transport trailer, but the lack of one should not be a deterrent to bidding. There are transport drivers available on the grounds at just about every sale. And often a little judicious horse-trading can earn your newly purchased animal a spot in another breeder's trailer heading home in your direction.
Many sales have an insurance representative present, to permit you to insure the newly purchased animal during transport. It doesn't hurt to ask about this in advance because if no representative will be present, you might wish to have a transport rider added to your farm policy.
Robert Stroud looks over the consignments before the Great Lakes group's 2006 sale at Durand, IL. Ever wonder why the animals entering the ring aren't in the same order as the sale catalog lot numbers? It's because the auctioneer usually previews the offerings and decides which will start with a bang! Using his knowledge of bidding psychology, he'll place them in the order he feels will maximize the interest in each consignment.
What should we learn ... before we buy?
Thinking of starting your own herd of Belted Galloways?
If you are new to the breed, we strongly recommend that you visit and talk with as many breeders as you can to familiarize yourself with bloodlines and conformation types. Beltie breeders are delighted to "talk cow" with visitors. Call to make appointments. You can obtain contact information on breeders in your state and nearby states by request to the Society's office.
Attend any Beltie sale or show within reach. There is nothing more educational than seeing a group of good animals lined up all in a row, and paying close attention to the show judge's comments on his choices can be quite instructive.
An article you may find helpful was extracted from Belties 2006 and is online, "What should we learn before we buy?"
The Belted Galloway Society's Standards Committee published an excellent 4-page Selection Guide which includes definitive recommendations on color, conformation, skin and hair coat, and more. The Committee has additionally published Purchasing Guides for bulls, cows and heifers. Obtain copies of these guides from Society Executive Director Vic Eggleston at executivedirector@beltie.org.
