Wednesday 24th May—EGM & AGM The Board Room, Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2RS
To approve the Society’s new Constitution.
In line with the Charity Commissioners we have updated our Constitution, we thought this was very necessary as it had not been updated since 1955! Our proposed Constitution can be found (by clicking here) or if you would like a copy please contact the office.
Quality not quantity was the order of the day at the spring sale held at Harrrison and Hetherington’s Carlisle sale centre. Vice president of the Society Mr Drew Brown took his champion and reserve female champions from the bulling heifer class, both from Robert McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas. Taking the red, white and blue rosette was Barlaes Robina 37th, this April 2015 born Barlaes JFK daughter sold to Brendan Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1550gns. The reserve champion was Barlaes Brownie 232nd, she is another Barlaes JFK daughter and sold to M/s Davies & Sons, Bailey Bog, Bwlch-Y-Sarnau, Rhayader, Powys for joint top price of 1600gns.
The male champion was Troloss Kansas, from Troloss Farms Ltd, Elvanfoot, Biggar, Lanarkshire, this Blackcraig Dec son is out of a homebred female, Troloss Charlotte, sold for 2600gns to M/s Medland, Wilminstone Hall, Wilminstone, Tavistock, Devon. The reserve champion was Lord of Balgray from D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie, this 20 month old, is by Ballavair Black Magic and out of Lady Silverbell 8th of Gall-way, sold for 1450gns to Neil Dunphy, Drumachar Farm, Logiealmond, Perth. The other Galloway bull sold also made 2600gns, Unthank Arthur* from S Busby & Co, Unthank, Langholm is a Rebus of Nether Cleugh son and out of Tina 4th of Unthank* sold to M/s Thorpe, Winterbutt Lee Farm, Eagley Bank, Shawford, Rochdale, Lancashire.
Father and son team, Walter and Ian Henderson from Whitehill, Lockerbie had a good day at the office when they sold their four pedigree in calf heifers to average £1365. Joint top price and 1st prize heifer was Astrid 647 of Whitehill, a Mountbenger Colonel daughter, she sold for 1600gns to Mr Laurie, Snowden Close, Gilsland, Brampton.
Averages
3 Bulls £2327.50 (+£1540.50)
4 Heifers in calf £1365 (-£42)
19 Bulling heifers £1100.29 (+£83)
3 Cows and calves £693.33 (-£286)
Prize list
Class 1 - Pedgiree Bull
1st Troloss Farms, Troloss, Elvanfoot, Biggar – Troloss Kansas sold to M/s Medland, Wilminstone Hall, Wilminstone, Tavistock, Devon for 2600gns
2nd S Busby & Co, Unthank, Langholm - Unthank Arthur* (appen) sold to M/s Thorpe, Winterbutt Lee Farm, Eagley Bank, Shawforth, Rochdale, Lancashire for 2600gns.
Class 2 – Pedigree Bull
1st D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie – Lord of Balgray sold to Mr N Dunphy, Drumachar Farm, Logiealmond, Perth for 1450gns
2nd Troloss Farms – Troloss Kingfisher
Class 3 – Pedigree heifer in calf or in milk
1st Walter J Henderson, Whitehill, Lockerbie – Astrid 547 of Whitehill sold to Mr Laurie, Snowden Close, Gilsland for 1600gns
2nd Walter J Henderson – Lady Ann 630 of Whitehill sold to Judith Brearley, Highcliffe Farm, Guisborough, Cleveland for 1400gns
3rd Walter J Henderson – Astrid 649 of Whitehill sold to M/s Richardson & Son, High Row, Lupton, Carnforth, Lancashire for 1050gns
4th Walter J Henderson – Lizzie 629 of Whitehill sold to Mr Laurie, Snowden Close, Gilsland for 1150gns
Class 4 – Pedigree bulling heifer
1st Robert J McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas – Barlaes Robina 37th sold to Mr B Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1550gns
2nd Robert J McTurk – Barlaes Brownie 232nd sold to M/s Davis & Sons, Bailey Bog, Bwlch-Y-Sarnau, Rhayader, Powys for 1600gns
3rd G & K Gilligan, High Creoch, Gatehouse of Fleet – Tamara 88th of High Creoch sold to Judith Brearley, Highcliffe Farm, Guisborough, Cleveland for 1050gns
Other leading prices
Robert J McTurk – Barlaes Brownie 230th sold to Mr B Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1500gns
Robert J McTurk – Barlaes Grace 91st sold to Mr B Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1550gns
Robert J McTurk – Barlaes Brownie 231st sold to Mr G Noble, West Acres, Kirklinton, Carlisle, Cumbria for 1280gns
Female Champion – J & A Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock – Blackcraig Bertha W560 sold to Balavil Estate, Kingussie, Inverness-shire for 4400gns
Reserve Female Champion – Mr P Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Dalry – Countess Wendy of Nether Cleugh to Balavil Estate for 3000gns
Overall Male Champion & Senior Champion – J & A Finlay, Blackcraig Xcaliver sold to Mr WF Welsh, Lochurr, Moniaive, Thornhill for 4000gns
Reserve Overall Male Champion & 2 Year old Male Champion – Troloss Farms Ltd, Troloss Farms, Elvanfoot, Biggar – Troloss Knockout sold to J,M & D Maxwell, Ben Lomond Blairvockie, Rowardennan, Drymen for 4500gns
Reserve 2 Year old Male Champion – Mr J Tullie, Bowanhill, Teviothead, Hawick – Bowanhill William Wallace sold to RA & JP Cornelius, West Rose, St Breward, Bodmin for 2000gns
Reserve Senior Champion – J & A Finlay, Blackcraig Xman
Junior Champion – J & S Ross, Romesbeoch, Shawhead, Yorker of Romesbeoch sold to Troloss Farms Ltd, Troloss Farm, Elvanfoot, Bigger for 1800gns
Reserve Junior Champion – Messrs Wallace, Over Barskeoch, Dalry, Xorro of Over Barskeoch sold to DW Gourlay & Co, Craigmuie, Moniaive for 4000gns.
Top Prices
Top Female Price -4400gns for the Female Champion – Blackcraig Bertha W560 to Balavil Estate
Top Male Price – 5000gns for Lot 13 Louis of Balgray to HH Kraft, Germany & Lot 20 Xavi of Kilnstown to J Robertson, Becks, Langholm.
Averages
21 bulls - 2638gns (+163gns) for 5 more sold
14 Bulling heifers - 1417gns (+77gns) for 2 less sold
12 Incalf heifers - 2212gns (+578) for 1 less sold
1 steer 1000gns.
CLASS 1
1 Kirkstead
2 Barlaes
CLASS 2
9 Troloss
4 Troloss
5 Balgray
7 Troloss
CLASS 3
12 Bowanhill
13 Balgray
15 Romesbeoch
16 Fingland
CLASS 4
23 Blackcraig
24 Blackcraig
20 Kilnstown
25 Blackcraig
CLASS 5
27 Romesbeoch
28 Over Barskeoch
CLASS 6
30/31 Ardoch
34/35 Barquhill
32/33 Ardoch
CLASS 7
37 Troloss
39 Troloss
36 Barquhill
CLASS 8
41 Ballavair
40 Ballavair
CLASS 9
46 Blackcraig
43 Blackcraig
49 Blackcraig
45 Blackcraig
CLASS 10
59 Nether Cleugh
53 Drumhumphry
57 Romesbeoch
58 Nether Cleugh
CLASS 11
No entries
CLASS 12
61 Kilnstown Steer
1
Kirkstead Warrior
1800
Steve Langdon, Criptor Farm Sandford, Spiney
2
Barlaes Online
3600
RKG Farms, Irelandton, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright
3
Barlaes Onward
4000
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
4
Troloss Knight Rider
N/S
5
Leo of Balgray
3000
H H Kraft, Germany
6
Ben Lomond Tamdhu
1600
W J Henderson, Whitehill, Corrie, Lockerbie
7
Troloss Kasabian
3000
ZG Muetzel & Greiger, Germany
8
Unthank Aedan
1100
Han Seehusen, Germany
9
Troloss Knockout
4500
J M & D Maxwell, Blairvockie, Rowardennan, Drymen
10
Wrangler of Nether Cleugh
N/S
11
Ballavair Inspiration
800
H O’Donnell, Drunfries, Clondany, Ireland
12
Bowanhill William Wallace
2000
RA & JP Cornelius, West Rose, St Breward, Bodmin
13
Louis of Balgray
5000
HH Kraft, Germany
14
Ballavair Idealist
1000
S Smith, Thesmeak, Alturnun Launceston
15
Xola of Romesbeoch
1600
FC Yeo, Bowlick House, Launceston, Cornwall
16
Messi of Fingland
1400
R McIntosh & Co, Outer Huntly, Ashkirk, Selkirk
17
Laird of Balgray
1600
Eskdalemuir Forestry Ltd, Hart Manor, Eskdalemuir, Langholm
18
Troloss Kingfisher
N/F
19
Lord of Balgray
N/F
20
Xavi of Kilnstown
5000
J Robertson, becks Langholm
21
Klondyke Zoltar
N/S
22
Klondyke Zodiac
2000
NJ & AM Barrett, T/A Glenariff Pedigree Livestock, Glenariff, Avon Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
23
Blackcraig Xcaliber
4000
WF Welsh, Lochurr, Moniaive, Thornhill
24
Blackcraig Xpel
2600
Mr Smith Wylliesyke, Gilsland, Carlisle
25
Blackcraig Xman
N/S
26
Yogie of Romesbeoch
N/F
27
Yorker of Romesbeoch
1800
Troloss Farms Ltd, Troloss Elvanfoot, Biggar
28
Zorro of Over Baskeoch
4000
DW Gourlay & Co, Craigmuie, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire
Unled Section
30
Kathleen 600183 of Ardoch
750
S Smith, Thesmeak, Alturnun Launceston
31
Marguerite of Ardoch*
1150
M/s Hogg, Milnholm, Langholm
32
Fenella of Ardoch*
550
B Jingles, 2 Mulleughsandal Road, Larne, Co Antrim
33
Kathleen 200193 of Ardoch
800
Steve Langdon, Criptor Farm Sandford, Spiney
34
Barquhill Lady Stanley
1000
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
35
Barquhill Nancy H765
1000
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
36
Barquhill Noreen H774
1000
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
37
Amber 1st of Troloss
2000
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
38
Molly 1st of Troloss
N/F
39
Linda 1st of Troloss
1600
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
40
Ballavair Hadly
1350
Judith Brearly, Highcliffe Farm, Guisborough, Clevelan
41
Ballavair Helena
2200
M/s Evans, Dale Cottage Farm, Wessington Lane, Wessington
42
Lady Diana 1669 of Romesbeoch
N/F
43
Blackcraig Betha W548
3200
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
44
Blackcraig Hilda W556
3100
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
45
Blackcraig Hilda W559
1500
DA Armitage 35 Old Park Road, Downpatrick
46
Blackcraig Bertha W560
4400
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
47
Blackcraig Joan W562
N/F
48
Barquhill Noreen H755
1800
G Becker, Germany
49
Blackcraig Star W584
3800
B Crawshaw, Broadley Field, Whitworth, Rochdale
50
Countess Winnie of Nether Cleugh
N/F
51
Barqhuill Elena H760
2000
R Jamrog, Germany
52
Barquhill Blodchen H759
1300
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
53
Drumhumphry Yvonne 1131
1500
J Heard, Hughslade Farm, Okehampton, Devon
54
Drumhumphry Yvette 1138
1700
DA Armitage 35 Old Park Road, Downpatrick
55
Beaty 1691 of Romesbeoch
2000
B Crawshaw, Broadley Field, Whitworth, Rochdale
56
Drumhumphry Yuletine 1144 (Red)
1500
B Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castlederg
57
Daisy 1705 of Romesboech
1000
B Jingles, 2 Mulleughsandal Road, Larne, Co Antrim
58
Gipsy Wanda of Nether Cleugh
1200
Roskilly Farms, Nutley, Tavistock, Devon
59
Countess Wendy of Nether Cleugh
3000
Balavil Estates, Kingussie, Inverness shire
60
Beauty 1817 of Romesbeoch
N/F
61
Kilnstown Farms Ltd - Steer
1000
J W Paterson & Son, Low Threemark, Stoneykirk, Stranraer
Download Catalogue here (**Updated **)
All Galloway Cattle will be pre tested and certified clear of Lepto and IBR at the Spring show and sale at Castle Douglas if exhibitors are not members of a Hi Health Scheme.
The Galloway Cattle Society would like to announce that all cattle at the premier Spring Show and Sale held at Castle Douglas on Friday 17th February 2017 will be pre tested and certified clear of Lepto and IBR also BVD accredited in line with government rules. Chairman Mr Scott McKinnon said “this will enable both pedigree and commercial purchasers to buy with confidence and ensure that they are not compromising their own herd health”
Auctioneer Mr Robin Anderson congratulated the Society on this new rule “Purchasers, both pedigree and commercial, want to buy breeding stock with a known health status, this new rule will ensure this and bring the Galloway breed in line with other breeds”.
Galloway cattle are one of the oldest of the UK’s native breeds and originates from Dumfries and Galloway, the premier sale is held in Castle Douglas every February, this year there are 61 cattle forward, 29 bulls, 31 females and 1 steer for sale. The judge is well known stockman Mr Robert Marshall who in partnership with the Finlays, Blackcraig purchased the record price female, Penninghame Susan. Mr Marshall is well known in both the show and sale rings and has shown at both local and national shows, with much success.
The Society would also like to announce a change to the category for the William Heughan Trophy, this trophy was presented by Lady MacRobert in memory of the famous opera singer Mr William Heughan to the Society - at the time it was for the “best three heifers by the same sire”. To enable more entries, the Society has altered the rules to read “Best three heifers from the same exhibitor”.
Deep in the middle of the East Sussex countryside, Little Tottingworth Farm sits in a hollow overlooking the beautiful High Weald. With the farm originally purchased in 1957 by Dennis and Ruby Browning, some fifty years later is it still in the same family today run by their grandchildren Sarah and Michael together with Sarah’s husband Jason.
Sarah has been running the farm with the family over the last twenty years. The 400 acres of grassland together with a further rented 70 acres is farmed with herds of Limousin, British Blue and Galloway cattle, together with a flock of sheep. What also makes Tottingworth special in this farming age is the successful small abattoir that is central to the farm, serving the farming community throughout the south east. With the recent expansion of a larger farm shop and café this year, this farm is keeping modern and changing with the times.
Jason moved up from the West Country in 2004 bringing his own haulage business together with his own show cattle. What started as a few cross bred show cattle and some British Blues has grown into a successful showing partnership over the last decade. Jason and Sarah bought their first Galloway in 2008 and their passion for the breed has now extended into a herd of twenty, fifteen Galloways with five belted. They join a herd of one hundred commercial cows at Tottingworth.
In 2012 they introduced a Galloway bull, Ballavair Black Jack after discovering how well the Galloway eats through the home produced beef they sell through their own farm shop. Running the bull with commercial cows as well as using him for their pedigree cows, has proved a hit with their customers buying top quality beef direct from the farm.
Success with the Galloways has not only be proved with their home produced beef but in the showing sector as well. At the Christmas shows, the Galloway crosses won the native cross calf and overall calf champion at the East of England Smithfield Festival last year. Double-O-Seven which is a steer calf that Sarah and Jason’s young son Ali has bred from his Blue Cross Cow with their Ballavair Black Jack bull. In 2014 they won the Best Cross Bred Native at the Highland Show with Cheeky Vimto and again in 2016 with Double-O-Seven. Their homebred Galloway heifer Warehams Grace 2nd was this year’s female champion at Heathfield Show, second in the Highland Show and champion AOB at Edenbridge Show.
So what is the future for the Galloways at Tottingworth Farm? “Our major aim is to expand the Galloways and to have this breed as the main herd at Tottingworth by putting a Galloway cross with pure Galloways. With the recent expansion of our farm shop, we want to keep offering high quality homebred produced beef to our customers. By using a Galloway also with continental commercial cows, this produces a very tasty beef product. Together with our home produced lamb and locally sourced pork, this have proved to be popular bringing customers to the shop and dining in the café. We feel strongly in producing locally produced meat and are very proud that the Galloways are expanding here in Sussex”.
Sarah added “We also find the hardy Galloways an effortless breed to calve and they tend to give us an easy time in the spring. We also dedicated a Belted Galloway in our new logo for the farm, as we feel very strongly in supporting this breed. We will continue to show them across the country highlighting what a super native herd of cattle they are.”
The Wareham’s Galloway herd at Tottingworth Farm certainly look at home on the hillside grazing over the Sussex High Weald. It is very pleasing to know that they are here to stay.
The Spours family farms 4,370 acres in widely-spread large blocks of tenanted land in north Northumberland which comprise of heather moorland and improved lowland.
The emphasis is on self-sufficiency and keeping inputs to a minimum for the enterprises based at Twizell Farm, near Belford, just north of Alnwick.
A herd of commercial Aberdeen Angus cows and a commercial sheep flock along with arable land were the mainstay of the business until 2010 when a block of 1,800 acres of heather hill at Chatton Sandyfords was designated SSSI to help encourage the wild juniper plants and protect the many archaeological features on the land.
“We had to reduce the sheep numbers on the moorland and there were areas of vegetation that required a native breed of cattle to reduce the moorland grasses and help encourage the juniper to grow,” said Daniel Spours, who farms in partnership with his brother, Richard, father, Lawrence and uncle, Paul. There are two full-time staff and casual labour is employed at peak times.
“We looked into native breeds and, originally, Galloways were the second choice. But when we looked further into it, the end users we spoke to commented about the superior eating quality of the Galloway beef and we already knew about the ease of management - de-horning, easy calving and that they were very low maintenance cattle, which we were all drawn to as we already had an overwhelming workload due to the other enterprises.
“They are fantastic, non-selective grazers which we knew would suit the SSSI scheme,” he added.
Now, Five years on from investing in the hardy Galloways, the Spours are not only reaping the benefits of conservation grazing, but they are selling the quality meat to a successful nearby on-farm restaurant which overlooks the causeway to Lindisfarne.
“We’re very happy with the Galloways. We started the herd to help fulfil the SSSI scheme requirements but now we have a ready outlet for the Galloway meat we are planning to increase numbers. Our original goal was to have a 60 cow herd with half to a terminal sire but now we are going to increase numbers to 90 cows and run them pure bred as we now know the full potential of the breed.
“It was a bit of a leap in the dark but I am really impressed with the Galloways and particularly how well they are finishing,” he added.
The Galloways have fitted into the farming system which is complicated because of the scattered grazing land, the furthest is 10 miles away at Beal.
The cropping land runs to 1,200 acres which rotates with improving the grassland. Of the arable crops, 600 acres is grown for sale with feed grades being utilized on farm. Wheat, barley, oats and oil seed rape are grown as well as fodder beet and kale and sheep feed rape.
The commercial Angus herd runs to 260 cows plus 30 breeding heifers following, all bull calves are finished by 16 months and sold to Scottish beef processors AK Stoddart along with any heifers not kept as herd replacements. All the cows are crossed with a registered Angus bull, although the herd is not registered it is likely that a small pedigree herd will be established in the future.
The Galloway herd now numbers 50 cows, most of which are registered cattle. Before embarking on the new herd, Daniel saw the attributes of the breed at John Carr-Ellison’s nearby Beanley, Powburn
Foundation cows originally were from Beanley, Miefield and Moor House with heifers from Blackcraig, Romesbeoch, Klondyke and the Nether Cleugh herds added. The aim is to buy larger animals with more frame which the hill land can carry - and those with a good quiet temperament.
Stock bulls are bought from the Galloway Cattle Society’s Castle Douglas sales and current herd sires are Ballavair Marley, Barquhill Frank and Value of Kilnstown, the spring 2016 purchase.
Daniel personally has carried out some AI on the Galloways with success and there are a number of bull and heifer calves by Orinocho of Over Barskeoch are on the ground.
While most of the replacements will be home bred, some bought-in heifers will also be included. Next year up to 20 heifers are expected to be added to the herd and the intention is to run three bulling groups to suit the way the hill is split. Heifers are calved at three years old.
The Galloways are calved in the spring from the end of April behind the commercial Angus herd on the lower ground near Twizell. The cows receive no assistance or housing at calving unless it is required.
“The Galloways certainly do the job and we have seen huge improvements in the reduction of the coarser grasses. The sheep are keen to graze the areas which have been cleared by the cattle, they are used primarily as a management tool” said Daniel.
“They are very low maintenance and while on the hill they only get a mineral supplement. Weaned calves are housed and fed a maintenance ration of barley and silage through the winter while the cows out-wintered on the hill are fed big bale silage when required.”
The Galloway steers are all finished between 22 and 27 months old off grass plus roughly a tonne of a finishing diet costing £140 introduced at the turn of the year until finished. The only other inputs are veterinary costs and labour, which are minimal.
The first Galloways were finished as bulls as with the Angus cattle but the Galloways struggled to reach a weight that would leave much profit as they are a slower maturing breed but still managed a fairly respectable 300kg deadweight at 16 months roughly £900 a head at that time and considering the lack of inputs with the herd there was still profit in these.
Then it was decided to run them on another year as steers which is proving to be a much better and more profitable system which utilizes their favourable eating quality rather than losing them to the meat industry as mince.
They are slaughtered at J A Jewitts in Spennymoor and they are hung for 21 days and processed at Reiver Country Farm Foods, Reston, near Berwick.
The carcasses are weighing between 365kg and 420kg and a typical carcasses classifies as R4L, killing out rate is around 55%. While the cattle are not regularly weighed before slaughter as Daniel believes adrenalin is the largest contributing factor in spoiling meat so they are drawn to condition to reduce handling and stress.
Since February 2016, roughly two whole carcasses a month have been sold to The Barn at Beal, established almost 10 years ago by farmer and entrepreneur Rod Smith, on the mainland just before the causeway to the popular visitor attraction Holy Island.
Twizell is the sole beef and lamb supplier to The Barn restaurant also providing 10 home produced lamb carcasses a month in what everyone sees as ‘very much a partnership’ with Daniel receiving feedback from the chef and customers with this he is able to adapt the product if required. “Far to often animals are slaughtered and there is little or no feedback to the producer,” he said.
Head Chef at The Barn at Beal for the last five years Cameron Waterhouse is a great fan of the Galloway beef and its consistency in producing a wide variety of beef dishes from breakfast sausages to rib of beef, rolled brisket to sirloin steaks. Mince, as well as being made into lasagna, is made into the ever popular burgers.
“The fat content of the beef is perfect for making burgers with just a little seasoning. Most burgers include rusk but our meat only burgers are gluten-free, and, as a result, we have been included in guides for coeliacs eating out.
“We have sold around 3,000 Galloway beef burgers in the summer school holidays.”
The Barn at Beal sources local products and Cameron says provenance and traceability are key to the foods produced in the kitchen for the restaurant and bar for both the many passing visitors and those staying at the on-site camping facility.
The sheep enterprises which numbers 3200 breeding ewes are split between hill and lowland, this has also been changed over recent years from a traditional stratified flock of Scottish Blackface ewes on the hill and Scotch mules on the lower ground to Easy Care ewes on the hill which are bred pure and then draft ewes are crossed with the Suffolk on the lower ground.
“We are still producing a similar number of lambs off the hill as we were even though we have reduced numbers by 300,” said Daniel.
The other side of the sheep enterprise is an intensive continental flock of ewes producing E and U grade lambs from three quarter bred Texels and purer which are crossed with Belgian type Beltex rams. The Texels are split 50-50 between Texel and Beltex rams and are run on the better ground and lambed inside from the 25th of March.
This year E grade store lambs out of hoggs have sold at Hexham Mart for up to £96 a head while finished lambs readily make more than £2.20 a kg.
Twenty years ago, 70% of Molland Moor on the southern edge of Exmoor in Devon was covered in heather. This figure has dropped to 30% in recent years as gorse, bracken and molinia grass has flourished and spread.
This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and, as such, English Nature and The Heather Trust are involved in an on-going trial with the Throckmorton family, which owns Molland Estate, and the Langdon family - its tenants at Luckworthy farm and sole graziers on the moor - to readdress this balance to ensure specific vegetation flourishes and wildlife particular to Exmoor’s landscape survives.
Under a derogation set up by English Nature, Steve Langdon and his 21-year old son Richard were given the go-ahead four years ago to out-winter cows and their calves on the 681ha (1680-acre) moor. As a result, this is the only herd which has permission to keep cattle out on Exmoor during winter months.
However, many hill farmers – both on Exmoor and Dartmoor – are hoping the success of this trial will set a precedent and allow them to follow suit and out-winter stock which, in turn, will reduce costs and control growth with its incumbent tick burden.
Sixty Galloways are managed in three hefts at 370m (1213ft) throughout the winter. They are fed daily in specific areas which English Nature and The Heather Trust have identified. The objective is to hold cattle where the molinia grass is most dense and hence give heather the opportunity to re-establish itself.
“It is working. It is obvious heather is returning where the other growth has been managed successfully,” said Steve Langdon. “Everybody is very excited by the results. These cows are non-selective grazers so are doing a great job of tackling the molinia which is, quite frankly, out of control. You can see where they have eaten it away. Underneath, the heather – which was suffocated by the thick grass – is now holding its own.
“Molland Moor is a SSSI. We like the Galloway cow here because it is so hardy and designed to live in this environment. And the breed’s strong immunity system is essential if it is to survive here: All this growth is a haven for ticks and hence stock is very susceptible to redwater.”
The Langdons run 250 cows from Luckworthy Farm which has 142ha (350-acres) of in-country with a farmyard at 250m (820ft). There are 100 pedigree Galloways; the rest of the Galloways are crossed with a Shorthorn. This hill farm has rights for 700 sheep and 100 cattle to graze the moor from May to the end of October so all except the 60 cows used in the Outwintering trial are housed over winter.
“One of the most revealing results from this trial is those Galloways which are out-wintered look so much better than those housed,” said Richard. “It is not a breed which is comfortable indoors. To help youngstock, everything has its back clipped out to prevent sweating and pneumonia.”
In winter, the 60 on the moor each receive 2kg/day of a 19% protein ewe cob. This is fed via a snacker and favoured due to a high soya content which the Langdons believe help maintain the cows’ condition. They receive a mineral bolus twice a year. A 1.62ha (four-acre) plantation on the edge of the moor was also used as a site for feeding round bale haylage but due to lack of interest from the cows is no longer used.
With 101ha (250-acres) cut to round bale haylage in the middle of July, autumn calving is favoured here. Many of the out-wintered cows therefore have a calf at foot. Those indoors have a creep system separate from the cows which is also shared with older steers. They receive haylage and 16% protein concentrate offered ad lib at a rate of 4kg barley:1kg nuts. This equates to a cost of £500/ beast over the winter.
The Langdons have been keen to improve their stock. Their six year-old bull Kirkstead Ultravox is currently outwintered with the cows. He was supplemented this spring with the 5000gns Troloss Juggernaut – male champion at the breed society’s February sale at Castle Douglas – and 2000gns Troloss Jester, both Blackcraig Rasputin sons.
This past year Richard has marketed 40 steers. It was not initially a successful enterprise. The family is still very keen to try and promote Galloway beef in the area to secure a market for this quality product.
“We took 12 steers to Cutcombe market as an experiment to see what interest there might be,” explained Richard. “It was very disappointing: They were 300kg lw at 12-months old and we didn’t even get a bid. So I took them home and we have been finishing them instead.”
Barley intake was reduced and a 34% protein finishing nut replaced that offered to the younger steers. There are just three steers left to finish. The rest have gone via Martin Baker to either Dunbia or ABP when 20-months old at 550kg lw to kill out at 300kg dw and grade as Rs with some U3s.
Richard also took one to South Molton fatstock show. This 21-month old 570kg beast was third in the native class and sold to local butcher John May at 209p/kg.
“I am looking forward to going into the shop and seeing the carcass. The feedback will be really interesting and I hope generate interest in the breed,” said Richard. In the meantime, however, the Langdons will be running just their best cows with the Galloway bulls and putting more of the rest to a Shorthorn in an effort to try and improve shape in the resulting calves.
Tick management is essential if stock is to graze the moor. In an attempt to help the Langdons with the Outwintering trial, Exmoor National Park has sponsored preventative treatments for both sheep and cattle. The latter are no longer vaccinated for redwater (a disease transmitted by ticks) but treated with Swish – a fly repellent.
“Sheep are also integral to the success of restoring this landscape,” said Mr Langdon. “Different animals and breeds graze vegetation in different manners. This is essential if the range of species is to be re-established. Whilst gorse is cut, swaling is a vital management technique for controlling heather, molinia and ticks.
“Like many moorland areas, Molland is part of the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme. The practices implemented to manage these environments are structured around hill ground in the North of England. Unfortunately moorland in the South West is unique in that its growing season is longer and so vegetation such as gorse and molinia has been allowed to encroach on the landscape because cattle have to be removed in HLS. We are therefore very grateful to Natural England and The Heather Trust for introducing this trial down here. There is no doubt it is working and let’s hope it can be rolled out as common practice for the sake of our native breeds which would rather be outside in the winter as well as the indigenous species on these moors.”
Luckworthy Farm, Molland
Judges;- Mr John Pattinson, Hottbank, Bardon Mill Farm, Hexham & Mr Jason Wareham, Little Tottingworth Farm, Broadoak, Heathfield, East Sussex.
With increased entries at the Society Sale at Harrison & Hetherington’s, Boarderway Mart, Carlisle, it meant purchasers had plenty to choose from which resulted in a drop of averages for every section, but there was 99% clearance, with Galloways heading to all corners of the UK including Shetland, Gwent, Co Tyrone, Norfolk, Sutherland, and Powys.
Female champion was Toffee Y of Over Barskeoch from Allan and Gib McMillan from the firm of Messrs Wallace, Over Barskeoch, Dalry, Castle Douglas, this September 2014 Huntly Victor daughter is out of Toffee Cathy of Over Barskeoch which is by Greenloop Limited Edition, the same sire as the AI sire Orinocho of Over Barskeoch. Toffee Y is off home with Brendan Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1800gns. Mr Douglas also purchased another Huntly Victor daughter Lottie Y of Over Barskeoch from Allan and Gib for 1750gns.
Lifting the blue and white rosette was Robert J McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas for a incalf heifer Barlaes Nancy 160th she is by home bred bull Barlaes JFK and out of Barlaes Nancy 107th. She was sold in calf to Watchman of Kilnstown to R.P Evans, Wessington, Derbyshire for the day’s top price of 2200gns
Heifers with calves at foot were in demand, top price was 2000gns for Scottish Queen 180th of Miefield from William and Mary McMorran, Miefield, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright, this Ruler of Kilnstown daughter sold with her 2 month old Bluegrey heifer calf to Messrs Hogg, Milnholm, Langholm. William Wallace & Sons of Fingland, Dalry, Castle Douglas sold Molly 191st of Fingland and her Limousin cross calf at foot for 1620gns to B Dickinson & Co Brock Stones, Kentmere, Kendal, Cumbria.
The first placed bull was Welling of Kilnstown from Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Kilnstown, Bewcastle, Carlisle, this Coldplay of Finland son is out of the well known family, Marina 67th of Kilnstown. Welling has been shown during the summer and was champion Galloway at Gilsland Show. He was unsold.
The dispersal sale of the Lanelybield herd from Deborah Harvey, Lonelybield, Kittley, Carlops, by Penicuick also took place this day, top price was 1400gns for Wee Mona of Laneybield, an 2012 born Braveheart of High Creoch daughter she sold to Messrs Wood, Kingledores, Broughton, Biggar, Lanarkshire. Deborah’s other two cows Elousie of Lanelyfield an 9 year old cow sold for 1200gns to Messrs Patterson, Hopsrigg and Lisa of Lanelyfield an 2010 Murphy of Romesboech daughter sold to Messrs Wood, Kingledores for 1350gns,
2 Bulls £787 (-£1033)
18 Heifers in calf or in milk £1407.58 (-£306.42)
22 Senior Bulling heifers £1017.06
15 Junior Bulling heifers £795.90
3 Cows £1382.50
Marshall Jackson Cup ( Champion Female) Won by Messrs Wallance, Over Barskeoch, Dalry – Toffee Y of Over Barskeoch
Solmain Cup (Best Junior Bulling Heifer) Won by Kilnstown Farms Ltd – Marina 85th of Kilnstown.
Isaac Hedley Cup (Best Pair Calving Heifers) Won by
Galloway Association Trophy for best bull Won by Kilnstown Farms Ltd – Welling of Kilnstown.
Pedigree Senior Bull
1st Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Kilnstown, Bewcastle – Welling of Kilnstown
2nd Peter Jackson, Roan, Newcastleton – Roan Border Fungus to C & G Hammer, Hirnant Elan Valley, Rhayader, Powys for 800gns
Pedigree heifer in calf or in milk
1st Robert J McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas – Barlaes Nancy 160th to R.P Evans, Wessington, Derbyshire for 2200gns
2nd W & M McMorran & Sons, Miefield, Twynholm – Scottish Queen 180th of Miefield to A & A Hogg & Son, Milnholm, Langholm for 2000gns.
3rd W & M McMorran & Sons - Scottish Queen 181st of Miefield to JJ Paterson & Co, Hopsrig, Terrona, Langholm for 1500gns
Other leading prices
W Wallace & Sons, Fingland, Dalry, - Molly 191st of Fingland to B Dickinson & Co, Brock Stones, Kentmere, Kendal for 1620gns
W & M McMorran – Brownie 114th of Miefield to J C Hodgson, 6 Lodge Lane, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire
Pedigree senior bulling heifer
1st Messrs Wallace, Over Barskeoch, Dalry – Toffee Y Of Over Barskeoch, Dalry to Brendan Douglas, 15 Ganvaughan Road, Castle Derg, Co Tyrone for 1800gns
2nd Messrs Wallace – Lottie Y of Over Barskeoch to Brendan Douglas for 1750gns
3rd Walter Henderson, Whitehill, Lockerbie – Lady Ann 634 of Whitehill to RW & V Elliot, Blackhall, Ewes, Langholm Dumfriesshire for 1000gns
Other Leading Prices
Walter Henderson – Lady Nancy 651 of Whitehill to RW & V Elliot, Blackhall for 1120gns.
G & K Gilligan, High Creoch, Gatehouse of Fleet – Natalie 3rd of High Creoch to J Duncan, Hillhead, Ollaberry, Shetland for 1040gns.
Walter Henderson – Lizzie 627 of Whitehill to K Laurie, Snowden Close, Gilsand, Brampton for 1020gns.
Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Kilnstown, Bewcastle – Penninghame Winnie to BWS Verrill, Sundaysight Farm, Bellinghame, Hexham for 1000gns
Pedigree junior bulling heifer
1st Kilnstown Farms Ltd – Marina 85th of Kilnstown to DK Jeary, Hawthorn Farm, High Raod, Briston, Melton Constable, Norfolk for 12500gns.
2nd Firm of James Tullie, Bowanhill, Teviot Head, Hawick – Bowanhill Alice 23rd to WD & R Elliot, Burnfoot, Ewes, Langholm for 1200gns
3rd Firm of James Tullie – Bowanhill Nancy 50th to J & S Wareham, Little Tottingworth Farm, Broad Oak, Heathfield, East Sussex for 800gns.
Below is the result of our successful application for a Community Food Fund for a study to explore ways of more clearly defining Galloway Beef. I hope you find it of interest and if you have any points of view, please contact the office.
Download here: Defining Galloway Beef
A scoping study and member consultation
on behalf of Galloway Cattle Society
