Special additions at Ranginui Retreat

Today, we have two more Belted Galloway heifers to double the herd here at Ranginui Retreat.

The Galloway Cattle Society of NZ says "the Belted Galloway were developed in the 16-1700's in the Galloway district from Galloway cattle and an unidentified belted animal thought to have been the Dutch Lakenvelder. The Dun and Belted Galloway Association was formed in Scotland in 1921, but in 1951 the name of the organization was changed to the Belted Galloway Society and dun cattle were no longer registered.

The Belted Galloway has a distinctive white belt while the rest of the animal can be black, red or dun, including silver. They are primarily raised for their quality marbled beef, although they are sometimes milked and purchased to adorn pastures due to their striking appearance."

Our girls are co-owned with a great friend and are there primarily as lawn-mowers. We have had two now for just over two years and they are looking a bit like barrels on silts at the moment as there is so much grass around. These new two are just 6 months old and seem to be settling in well after their ride over the Remuteka's (we went really slowly as a car sick cow is not a good look for anyone). We have them in adjoining paddocks so they have some time to get used to each other and there is a lot of "mooing" going on right now.

Posted by Rob Steele on November 11, 2022