Joyce and I spent several days last week at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days exhibiting a couple of yearling heifers. With the able assistance of Bob and Lyndall Mack (WI), we were able to have one or more people available to answer questions about Belted Galloways during all the hours the exhibit was open to the public. We were encouraged by the interest in the breed, beyond the typical questions regarding their color and hair coat. Two Buelingo heifers were stabled nearby, which offered the public an opportunity to visualize the difference between the breeds, and provided us some talking points regarding the merits of Belted Galloways. Genuine interest in the breed seems to be increasing each year we have been associated with this event. Our hope is  that exposure like this will provide a conduit through which our breeders will have greater opportunities to sell their animals due to increased public awareness of Belted Galloways. I would like to thank the Belted Galloway Society, Inc. for providing funds to pay for our space in the beef tent at this event, and remind our members that funds have been put aside by the Society for them to help defray the costs of exhibiting their animals at public functions.

Belted Galloways owned by Vic & Joyce Eggleston, Hav-A-Belt Galloways, New Glarus, WI were among the 11 breeds represented  in the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Beef Tent at the recent 2007 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.

Farm hosts, Plain View Stock Farm in Albany, WI is operated by the Keith and Teresa Blumer family and comprised of 3,000 acres of both owned and rented land with primary cash crops including corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. They also have a custom heifer-raising operation, raising over 1,500 heifers per year for area farms.

A 60-acre tent city featured displays of  products and services showcasing farm buildings, new facility inputs, equipment and supplies, feed and grain, supplies for animal health and nutrition, fertilizer, breeding programs, farm toys, and more.

In addition to showcasing 11 beef breeds and several beef-related organizations, the Beef Tent activities included special sessions like: 1) New Beef Cuts, their location on the carcass and cooking methods by Jeffrey Sindelar, U of WI Extension Meat Specialist; 2) Animal Identification Demonstration – Applying ID ear tags; 3) Ultrasound Demonstrations by U of WI Beef Extension Specialist, Jeff Lehmkuhler to mention a few. Also on hand for part of two days were the producers of “Cattlemen to Cattlemen” taking footage for their RFD-TV show.  With area schools dismissing early, the school age children checking out the beef tent kept us “on our feet.” The  “Barn Safety” message, “Use your quiet voice, keep yardsticks and plastic bags out of pens, and hug your balloons really tight" was one repeated many times.

Special thanks to Bob & Lyndall Mack, Sun Valley Farm, WI for their assistance throughout the event and to the Belted Galloway Society for their financial support of this exhibition.

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is pleased to announce that the annual review of the Conservation Priority List has led to a positive change for the 2007 version. Belted Galloway cattle have been moved from the Watch List to the Recovering list based on a living population of registered animals in the US of over 10,000, according to the Belted Galloway Society.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Included are asses, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Founded in 1977, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is the pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock.

How do livestock breeds become endangered? Breeds of livestock and poultry are threatened because agriculture has changed. Modern food production favors the use of a few highly specialized breeds selected for maximum output in intensively controlled environments. Many traditional breeds do not excel under these conditions, so have lost popularity and are threatened with extinction. These traditional breeds are an essential part of our American agricultural inheritance. They not only evoke our past, but are an important and irreplaceable resource for our future. 

Why is genetic diversity important? Agriculture, like all biological systems, depends on genetic diversity to adapt and respond to an ever-changing environment. Genetic diversity in domestic animals is revealed as distinct breeds, each with different characteristics and uses. Traditional, historic breeds retain essential attributes for survival and self-sufficiency - fertility, foraging ability, longevity, maternal instincts, ability to mate naturally, and resistance to diseases and parasites. As agriculture changes, we need to be able to draw on this genetic diversity for a broad range of uses and future opportunities.

Once lost, genetic diversity is gone forever. It can never be recovered. Protection of endangered farm animal breeds is the only way to save their genetic potential for the future.

How can endangered breeds be used in today's agriculture? Using endangered livestock today, whenever possible is essential to their survival for tomorrow. These breeds can be commercially viable in appropriate, diversified, sustainable agriculture. They are finding a good fit in small-scale and pasture-based agricultural systems - the very systems for which they were adapted.

Our domesticated animals have always been an integral part of our agriculture. They provide nutritious foods, such as milk, cheese, eggs and meat, as well as wool, cashmere, mohair and other products that enrich our lives. Domesticated animals also provide environmentally friendly services, including brush and grass management, pest control, and draft power—replacing damaging chemicals and practices.

Leaving something for future generations. The need to save traditional, historic livestock and poultry is urgent. Throughout agricultural history, each generation has taken its turn as steward of this genetic trust. This generation, however, is in danger of bankrupting the trust. Each day, some breeds move closer to extinction. You can help turn this trend around.

What does the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy do? The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy protects over 150 breeds of livestock from extinction. ALBC's programs include: Research on breed characteristics and population. Education about genetic diversity, breed attributes, and the role of livestock in a more sustainable agriculture. Technical and promotional support to a network of breeders, breed associations, and farmers. Agriculture policy development for governmental and non-governmental agencies. Gene banks to preserve genetic material collected from endangered breeds. Rescues of threatened populations.

How can you help? Become a member of ALBC. Not only will you be supporting the important work of ALBC, but you can become informed about endangered breeds and genetic diversity. You will get the latest information about breed conservation projects and events in your region. 

Editors Note: Special thanks to Mr. Andrew Neilson from North Lancaster, Ontario CAN for the use of his article which originally appeared in the July/August issue of Countryside & Small Stock Journal. Andrew, a farmer/landscaper, along with his wife, Denise, plus three children, dedicate their farm to the promotion and propagation of two Canadian endangered species, Belted Galloway cattle and Jacob sheep. Please note: Mr. Neilson has adequate forage availability for his livestock to thrive without supplementation of other feed sources. Belted Galloway cattle are known for their outstanding foraging abilities, but depending on breeder demographic location  plus resources for pasture and forage, this method could be detrimental to the nutritional  needs of stock in individual herds.

So what? If a given variety works, why should we care?

In a word, the answer is biodiversity. This is a complex word, literally meaning “organisms unlike in nature or qualities”. There are a few very important ways that this impacts us.

For one, different breeds of animals have unique and valuable characteristics, not all of which translate directly into dollars in our industrial wholesale system. Hybrids are animals derived from two or more root breeds with particular desirable characteristics. Often, over time, they become commercial animals or even their own breeds due to these particular desirable traits (as Holsteins have come to dominate dairy) and get more and more specialized and further and further from the original stock. It is all well and good to use the most efficient or most accepted breeds (for our particular system), but  what happens if there is a problem? If there is a major outbreak of some new disease to which the commercial breed is particularly susceptible? We could have a catastrophe on our hands and no recourse if the root stock from which they were originally derived is lost. How can we hope to rebuild or change a population of commercial animal without?

This is a serious issue. Serious enough that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (the arm of the Canadian government concerned with our food supply) defines “sustaining the plant and animal base” as # 3 on its priority list from its most recent business plan (CFIA website). The problem is that no one knows what species are (or will be) best suited to our changing environment. We cannot understand the interaction of climate, viruses, prions, bacteria, food varieties, predators, human health and the myriad of other factors that influence animal food production. However, every time we lose a variety of animal,  we lose some of the adaptive advantages from the genetic pool on which we can draw. It is to our advantage to safeguard endangered species in order to preserve these genetic advantages.

Although the parameters differ country to country (see figures 1 and 2), in all nations who track livestock diversity, those which are critical, endangered or threatened are in dire need of protection.

The other major area in which it is worth preserving biodiversity is flavor. Every breed of livestock has its own flavor, be it in terms of their eggs, milk or meat and all their derivatives (cheese, sausage, pate, and so on). In a world of increasingly homogeneous, mass produced products, these different flavors are in danger of being lost. For example, it is my opinion that the lamb from Jacob lamb tastes better than any other. It is mild, has no wooly flavor and is incredibly tender. Other people prefer other breeds, but regardless of a person’s personal preference, if any breed is lost, we lose that special taste, and the opportunity to decide what we like best. This is clearly detrimental to us all.

The point is that you don’t know what flavors are in the world until you start to eat different products which, by necessity have different origins. Do we want to give that up?

Having said all of this, these are not zoo animals. It is best if the breeds in question, rare or not offer an economic benefit to the producer. In industrial, wholesale settings, this can be complex.

In our case, we have made these endangered animals profitable by making use of their natural advantages. Galloways and Jacobs are hardy, can forage for their own food in tough situations and do not require housing. On our farm, we allow them to do their own thing. They are fed no grain, and only get water and a salt lick as supplements. Because there is minimal cost to their food and we cultivate a private sale, quality based market, these animals yield a decent profit per head. Put them on a feed lot or intensive system, and they simply cannot keep up with the more commonly utilized industrial breeds who have higher, faster finishing weights, more lambs or whatever advantage it is that makes them best for their particular situation.

In every sector of livestock agriculture as it is currently set up, (beef, milk, eggs, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork or what have you), certain breeds excel. Holsteins produce more milk, Suffolks produce heavier lambs, Charolais produce larger steers, etc, etc. As superior as these animals may be in their particular areas, it is not a good idea to grow them exclusively. “Never put all your eggs in one basket” is an old cliché, but very accurate nonetheless.

The point of all of this is that sometimes when we step back from the system, other opportunities present themselves. The resources necessary to take advantage of these opportunities are sometimes unusual breeds, many of which are close to extinction.

This is not intended as an indictment of commercial agriculture. In our current system, we would probably starve were it not for large scale producers. Every breed has its place. What concerns me, and I would argue should concern us all, is that a good deal of biodiversity and, hence many breeds with special characteristics and flavors are in danger of being lost. We need to maintain that diversity.

Junior Heifer Calf, E+H Katie. Winter Heifer Calf, Prock Ridge Muffet. Summer Yearling Heifer, Red Apple Annabelle owned by Turner Farm. Spring Yearling Heifer, Oatley's Farm Azalea. Junior Yearling Heifer, Anderson Hill Black Rosie owned by Twelve Oaks Cattle Company. 

Champion Heifer, Oatley's Farm Azalea. Reserve, Prock Ridge Muffet. 

Showmanship Group – 1, Olivia Oatley,. Showmanship Group – 2, Lauren Guptil. Showmanship Group – 3, Victoria  Oatley. Showmanship Group – 4, AJ  Stahoski. Showmanship Group – 5, Keri Bendell. Champion Showman, Victoria Oatley.

Spring Heifer Calf, Uphill Kristine. Junior Heifer Calf, Uphill Kahlua. Winter Heifer Calf, Anderson Hill Contessa. Senior Heifer Calf, Meadowood Splendour 9S. 

Champion Heifer Calf, Meadowood Splendour 9S. Reserve, Anderson Hill Contessa.

Late Summer Yearling Heifer, RMR Sasha. Early Summer Yearling Heifer, 4WF Lola. Junior Yearling Heifer Group 1, Oatley's Farm Azalea. Junior Yearling Heifer Group 2, Stonesthrow Sweet 16, (AI) (ET) owned by Meadowood Farm. Early Junior Yearling Heifer, Anderson Hill Black Rosie. 

Junior Champion, Stonesthrow Sweet 16 - AI – ET owned by Meadowood Farm. Reserve, Oatley's Farm Azalea.

Late Senior Heifer, Meadowood Rainbow 5R. Early Senior Heifer, Stonesthrow Revel m (AI), (ET) owned by Meadowood Farm. Late Two Year Old Heifer, Marben's Victoria II. Early Two Year Old Heifer, Mitchell Ledge Ali. 

Senior Champion, Stonesthrow Revel - AI – ET. Reserve, Meadowood Rainbow 5R. 

Grand Champion Female, Stonesthrow Sweet 16 - AI – ET owned by Meadowood Farm. Reserve, Meadowood Splendour 9S.

Junior Bull Calf, Uphill Kingston. Winter Bull Calf, Prock Ridge Calgary. Senior Bull Calf, E+H Bubba. 

Champion Bull Calf, Prock Ridge Calgary. Reserve, Holbrook Hill Ranger Gillette. 

Late Summer Yearling Bull. Marben's Vancouver. Early Summer Yearling Bull, E+H Newman. Late Junior Yearling Bull, Anderson Hill Banjo. Early Junior Yearling Bull, Anderson Hill Bop Man. 

Junior Champion Bull, Anderson Hill Bop Man. Reserve, Anderson Hill Banjo. 

Two Year Old Bull, Anderson Hill All In One. 

Senior Champion Bull, Anderson Hill All In One. Reserve, E+H Joshua. 

Grand Champion Bull, Anderson Hill Bop Man. Reserve, Anderson Hill All In One. 

Prospect Steer, Prock Ridge Dakota. Steers, Meadowood Ripley 4R. 

Champion Steer, Meadowood Ripley 4R. Reserve, UMass Denali. 

Get-of-Sire, Anderson Hill Farm. Best Pair of Weanlings, Uphill Farm. Best Pair of Yearlings, Anderson Hill Farm. Produce of Dam, Meadowood Farms. Breeders Herd, Anderson Hill Farm. Best Six Head, Anderson Hill Farm. 

Premier Breeder, Anderson Hill Farm. Premier Exhibitor, Anderson Hill Farm.

Big E Grand Champion Female, Stonesthrow Sweet 16 (AI) (ET). Bred by Dick and Lisa Williams (SC). Owned by Meadowood Farm (NY).

Big E Grand Champion Male, Anderson Hill Bop Man. Bred and owned by Dick Anderson (VT).

Exhibitors, Basin Brook Farm (ME), Bumpus Farm (ME), E&H Cattle Co. (ME), Moonshadow Farm (ME), Ponderosa Farm (ME), Prock Ridge Farm (ME), Turner Farm (ME).

Junior. Bull Calf, Moonshadow Evin. Summer Yearling Bull, E&H Newman. Spring Yearling Bull, E&H Kramer. Two  Year Old Bull, E&H Joshua.

Champion Bull, E&H Bubba. Reserve, E&H Joshua.

Group of Three Bulls, E&H Cattle Company. Group of Two Bulls, -E&H Cattle Company.

Junior Heifer Calf, E&H Katie. Senior Heifer Calf, Stonesthrow Sapphire owned by E&H Cattle Company.

Summer Yearling Heifer, Red Apple Annabelle owned by Turner Farm. Spring Yearling Heifer, Moonshadow Disney. Junior Yearling Heifer, Prock Ridge Paris owned by Moonshadow Farm.

Senior Yearling Heifer, Meadow View Sierra  owned by Moonshadow Farm.

Champion Female, Red Apple Annabelle owned by Turner Farm. Reserve, Moonshadow Disney.

Get of Sire, E&H Cattle Company. Pair of Yearling Heifers, Moonshadow Farm. Two Females Bred and Owned, Moonshadow Farm. Two Females Owned, Moonshadow  Farm. Pair of Calves, E&H Cattle Company. Best Six Head, E&H Cattle Company.

Fourteen Belted Galloways were exhibited at the annual Belted Galloway show during the Sandwich Fair. Julie & Terry Willis (IL), Sally Keller (IL) and Kathi Jurkowski (IL) worked together exhibiting Oak Valley Farm (IL) and Sunnybrook Farms (IL) cattle. [Photo courtesy of Kathi Jurkowski, IL]

Use the letter T as the official Year Code when tattooing animals born in 2007. The letter S applies to animals born in 2006. 

North American Livestock Exposition National Show
November  12-16, Louisville, KY.
BYG Show  4.pm. November 13. Open Show 3p.m. November 14. 
Contact Michelle Ogle (908) 781-5576 or mobcurly@aol.com.

Secretarial Office Phone Hours ...
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