Show – Thursday 17th February, 2022
Sale – Friday 18th February, 2022
Judge Mr Robert McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas.

Trade was a flyer at the Galloway Cattle Society’s two day show and sale held at Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas, with three animals over 10,000gns and a dozen heifers over 5000gns

 

Selling the lead price of 15000gns for Kirkstead Elite was Society’s Chairman, Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, this much fancied 16 month old is by Troloss Impeccable who was purchased in partnership with David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite, Balgray for 9200gns. Elite was placed 2nd in the show the previous day and is off home with Klondyke Farms Ltd, Shancastle, Moniaive, Thornhill.

10000gns was achieved twice, once for the Male Champion, Unthank Beowulf from Alistair Busby, Unthank, Ewes, Langholm, this March 2020 was the heaviest bull in the mart at 832kgs, is by 3500gns Mandella of Balgray and was purchased by Messrs Spours & Sons, Twizell Farm, Belford, Northumberland for their 70 cow herd.

Ben Lomond Endeavour from J,M & D Maxwell, Blairvockie, Drymen, Glasgow also realized 10,000gns, this May 2020 is a Zonda of Kilnstown son and out of Ben Lomond Waterlily – a Klondyke Raider daughter was sold to Father and Son team, John and Andrew Tullie, Bowanhill, Teviothead, Selkirk. Duncan Maxwell also purchased one of three animals to achieve 8000gns - Barlaes Trooper, from Judge - Robert McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas, this 22 month old Troloss Magnum son is out of Barlaes Nancy 126th who is by the homebred sire Barlaes Colossus.

Doug and Jim Ross, Romesbeoch, Shawhead, Dumfries, sold the first bull in the ring - Chopper of Romeseoch also for 8000gns, this October 2019 born, Struthurr Yogi son sold to repeat customer Jimmy Ions, Thornyburn, Falstone, Hexham.

8000gns was the female top price for Brownie 5th of Fingland, from Jimmy Wallace and Family at Fingland, Dalry, Castle Douglas, placed 2nd in its class the day before, this Kirkstead Vindicator daughter who was shared with Kirkstead sold to Mr Steven McKillop, Sallachry East¸ Inveraray. The Fingland Team had a great day in the office, as they sold 6 Kirkstead Vindicator daughters heifers to average 4116gns. Their next best top price of 6500gns was for the first prize heifer Joyce 3rd of Fingland, out of Joyce 1st of Fingland who is the AI sire Orinocho of Over Barskeoch, she went home with R Nixon & E MacPherson, Marbrack, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas. A call of 6000gns was made for the incalf heifer - Brownie 7th of Fingland, this August 2019 heifer is travelling home with Helen Ryman, North Kildarroch, Whauphill, Newton Stewart. Helen also purchased Kathleen 15th of Fingland for 3200gns, Brownie 8th of Fingland - full sister to the top price heifer for 2200gns and Lady Polka 16th of Fingland for 4200gns.

The Female champion was Foxglove Blue of Nether Cleugh from Peter Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Corsock, this September 2019 born Blackcraig Vagabond daughter was sold in calf to Nether Cleugh ‘s new stock bull Klondyke Dominoto and purchased by June and Bobby MacKenzie, Wester Auchnagallen, Grantown of Spey for 7000gns, which is Nether Cleugh best price to date.

The reserve female champion, Blackcraig Blondchen B1089 from John, Ann & Iain Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock secured 6500gns to Messrs Cowie, Polston Farm, The Mill, Polston. This first place heifer is by the homebred bull Blackcraig Superman and out of Blackcriag Blondchen U 087 who goes back to Blackcraig Sam. This stylish heifer was one of five heifers from the much admired pen from Blackcraig which averaged 3900gns. The next best priced heifer was 5000gns for Blackcraig Shields B1070 is by Nucamp of Balgray and out of Blackcraig Shields and heads north to Stirling with new members 3G Galloways. Another new member J Common & Sons, Crossdykes, Lockerbie purchased another Nucamp of Balgray daughter -Blackcraig Bertha B1045 for 4500gns. Well known German breeder Horst Kraft then secured Blackcraig Moss Rose B1091 for the next best price of 4200gns and Blackcraig Blonchen B1089 sold for 3800gns to G & M Porter, Islay. Blackcraig’s only bull entry – Blackcraig Crofter, a Blackcraig Xtreame son sold for 7000gns sold in a half share deal between Messrs Milligan, Dunesslin, Dunscore, Dumfries and Messrs Wallace, Over Barskeoch, Dalry, Castle Douglas

Averages
19 Bulls £5819.21 (+£1342.02)
22 heifers in calf or ran with bull £3493.63 (-£224)
15 bulling heifers £2506.00 (+£46)

Lot No

Name of animal

DoB

Gns

Purchaser

1

Chopper of Romesbeoch                  

 27/10/2019 

8000

J Ions & Son

Hexham

2

Huntly Drummer                         

 26/11/2019 

N/F

3

Barlaes Tam O Shanter                  

 30/01/2020 

N/F

4

Unthank Beowulf                        

 13/03/2020 

10000

SH Spours & Sons

Belford

5

Pegasus of Trolossé                    

 16/03/2020 

3000

P G Abel

Petertavy

6

Wareham’s Bullet Tooth Tony            

 20/03/2020 

N/S

7

Wareham’s Corker                       

 22/03/2020 

N/F

8

Barlaes Tam                            

 25/03/2020 

6000

R Galloway

Stirling

9

Barlaes Trooper                        

 31/03/2020 

8000

J, M & D Maxwell

Blairvockie

10

Withdrawn

11

Barlaes Toledo                         

 06/04/2020 

5500

Cnewr Estate

Sennybridge

12

Dare Devil of Over Barskeoch           

 14/04/2020 

N/S

13

Wareham’s Unstopabull                  

 17/04/2020 

N/S

14

Raider of Balgray                      

 21/04/2020 

N/S

15

Withdrawn

16

Dominator of Romesbeoch                

 01/05/2020 

4500

D Lewis

Llanwrda

17

Rebellious of Balgray                  

 03/05/2020 

N/F

18

Ben Lomond Endeavour                   

 04/05/2020 

10000

J Tullie

Bowanhill

19

Ring Leader of Balgray                 

 09/05/2020 

1800

MacMillan & Partners

Castle Douglas

20

Pioneer of Trolossé                    

 24/05/2020 

6000

T Byers

Wigton

21

Dava Dave                              

 21/06/2020 

N/S

22

Warhorse of Fingland                   

 22/07/2020 

N/F

23

Commander of Kilnstown                 

 05/09/2020 

3000

J Steele

Lanark

24

Century of Kilnstown                   

 07/09/2020 

N/S

25

Conquer of Kilnstown                   

 08/09/2020 

N/F

26

Kirkstead Eliminator                   

 13/09/2020 

2000

DW Gourlay & Co

Craigmuie

27

Dava Duke                              

 14/09/2020 

N/F

28

Blackcraig Crofter                     

 21/09/2020 

7000

Milligan & Wallace

Dunesslin & Over Barskeoch

29

Blackcraig Clansman                    

 23/09/2020 

N/F

30

Kirkstead Elite                        

 28/09/2020 

15000

Klondyke Farms Ltd

Shancastle

31

Conundrum of Nether Cleugh             

 05/10/2020 

2500

H Kraft

Germany

32

Barquhill Hector                       

 14/10/2020 

3000

W Wallace & Sons

Fingland

33

Explosion of Over Barskeoch            

 11/11/2020 

N/S

34

Rhodium of Balgray                     

 17/11/2020 

2500

G Roarty

N Ireland

35

Kirkstead Expert                       

 03/03/2021 

6500

D & R Cornthwaite

Balgray

36

Creditor of Kilnstown                  

 06/04/2021 

N/F

37

Jess 371 of Troloss                    

 13/03/2019 

4000

D Henry

Ballymena

38

Brownie 5th of Fingland (Twin)         

 26/04/2019 

8000

S McKillop

Inveraray

39

Brownie 7th of Fingland                

 01/08/2019 

6000

H Ryman

Whauphill

40

Penelope of Balgray (ET)               

 04/09/2019 

N/S

41

Foxglove Belle of Nether Cleugh (Twin) 

 12/09/2019 

1800

R Nixon

Marbrack, Castle Douglas

42

Foxglove Blue of Nether Cleugh (Twin)  

 12/09/2019 

7000

J MacKenzie

Grantown

43

Blackcraig Bertha B1045                

 23/09/2019 

4500

J Common & Son

Crossdykes, Lockerbie

44

Countess Balalika of Nether Cleugh     

 07/10/2019 

N/F

45

Blackcraig Shields B1070               

 14/10/2019 

5000

3 G - Galloway

Stirling

46

Barquhill Almond 1088                  

 28/10/2019 

N/S

47

Blackcraig Blondchen B1089             

 07/11/2019 

6500

J Cowie

Polston

48

Blackcraig Blondchen B1088             

 07/11/2019 

3800

G & M Porter

Islay

49

Blackcraig Moss Rose B1091             

 11/11/2019 

4200

HH Kraft

Germany

50

Barquhill K Blondchen 1091             

 16/11/2019 

3200

J Campbell

Strathaven

51

Barquhill Moss Rose 1096               

 18/11/2019 

1800

SL McCarthy

Borgue

52

Joyce 3rd of Fingland                  

 16/03/2020 

6500

R Nixon

53

Klondyke Page                          

 21/03/2020 

N/S

Marbrack, Castle Douglas

54

Kathleen 15th of Fingland              

 05/04/2020 

3200

H Ryman

Whauphill

55

Brownie 8th of Fingland                

 07/04/2020 

2200

H Ryman

Whauphill

56

Lady Polka 16th of Fingland            

 25/04/2020 

4200

H Ryman

Whauphill

57

Beauty 2316 of Romesbeoch              

 25/04/2020 

2500

J Heard

Hughslade, Okehampton

58

Daisy 2317 of Romesbeoch               

 25/04/2020 

N/F

59

Lady Diana 2319 of Romesbeoch          

 28/04/2020 

2100

G & M Porter

Islay

60

Beauty 2320 of Romesbeoch              

 29/04/2020 

N/S

61

Anusha 2325 of Romesbeoch              

 04/05/2020 

2800

J Heard

HuGhslade, Okehampton

62

Kirkstead Nerys Ingrid D2              

 15/09/2019 

1600

D & C Logan

Stirling

63

Kirkstead Nerys Ingrid D6              

 21/09/2019 

1300

J Steele

Lanark

64

Kirkstead Quirk D9                     

 27/09/2019 

N/F

65

Kirkstead Quirk D16                    

 12/10/2019 

2500

J McCurdy

Broughshane

66

Kirkstead Lea D13                      

 30/09/2019 

3000

B Douglas

Castlederg

67

Kirkstead Quirk D17                    

 20/10/2019 

1600

D Henry

Ballymena

68

Kirkstead Quirk D19                    

 02/11/2019 

0

69

Kirkstead Nancy D21                    

 12/11/2019 

1200

J Steele

Lanark

70

Kirkstead Quirk D23                    

 25/12/2019 

N/F

71

Kirkstead Amber D24                    

 29/01/2020 

1800

R Nixon

Marbrack, Castle Douglas

72

Klondyke Olympia                       

 18/09/2019 

N/S

73

Klondyke Orchard                       

 19/09/2019 

N/S

74

Klondyke Oven                          

 11/10/2019 

N/S

75

Klondyke Orrel                         

 23/10/2019 

N/F

76

Barlaes Nancy 181st                    

 02/04/2020 

N/S

77

Barlaes Katie 96th                     

 04/04/2020 

1700

D McClintock

Broughshane

78

Barleas Katie 97th

07/04/2020

1200

B Douglas

Castlederg

79

Barlaes Black Ice 7th                  

 15/04/2020 

2500

R Galloway

Stirling

80

Roustabout of Balgray                  

 03/05/2020 

1800

J Common & Son

Crossdykes, Lockerbie

81

Ribena of Balgray

03/05/2020

1400

D McClintock

Broughshane

82

Reunion of Balgray                     

 05/05/2020 

1400

J McCurdy

Broughshane

83

Randy of Balgray                       

 18/05/2020 

N/F

84

Raven of Balgray                       

 21/05/2020 

1600

J McCurdy

Broughshane

The Galloway Society of GB & Ireland is delighted to announce the dates for the 2022 sales. The Castle Douglas spring show and sale held at Wallets’ Mart is being held over two days, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th February 2022, the show to be held on the 17th at 12 noon and the sale the next day at 11am. Entries for this sale close on Wednesday 5th January 2022, please contact Wallets’ marts if you require entry forms. The judge for the show is well-known breeder Mr Robert McTurk from the Barlaes herd.

The Carlisle spring show and sale held in Harrison and Hetherington flagship mart is on Friday 4th March 2022 with the autumn show and sale on Friday 4th November 2022.

2022 Sale Dates

Castle Douglas spring show and sale - Thursday 17th and Friday 18th February 2022
Carlisle spring show and sale – Friday 4th March 2022
Carlisle autumn show and sale – Friday 4th November 2022

Richard and Clare Packer never intended to farm - but they seized the opportunity when they got it and are building their enterprise around low input pedigree Galloway cattle and easily managed sheep.

Four generations of the Murrays have farmed in the Coquet Valley but when John Murray decided to hand over the business at  Cartington Farm, near Thropton -  he offered the opportunity to his daughters.

“I’m one of four daughters and on Boxing Day 2011 Dad said to us all - ‘There’s a business here and if any of you are interested, now is the time to get involved,’” said Clare.

Clare had grown up with her parents John and Rosalind and her three sisters at Cartington Farm on the Armstrong Cragside Estate and, while she had enjoyed working with the sheep back then, farming had not been her intention.

“My parents have worked with the Farming Community Network and they know that a lot of farmers do not think through succession but my Dad has and he has been prepared to hand over the business. It has been quite a process to do it !

“I am the eldest daughter and I was the most keen on farming, mainly with the sheep. But I also know how hard farming is,” said Clare, who also works part time as a teaching assistant.

Richard had grown up around farming and was a director  for a pharmaceutical company at Morpeth but the pressures of working for a global company were taking their toll and he decided to quit.

Richard began doing countryside work in the area and on the farm and he and Clare moved back to Cartington in 2014 to the house where she was born.

“Dad had sold his suckler herd some years previously when he was seriously ill, investing what he got for the cows back into property,  and he had reduced stocking levels so that he could manage, so for us it was almost like having a blank sheet of paper to work on. We set about making a 10-year plan,” said Clare.

Richard added: “With me coming from a non-farming background I was thinking about what we would do if we didn’t get subsidies and how we could create a profitable business. 

“I was thinking how we could  farm in an economic, environmentally friendly and sustainable way and also enjoy what we were doing,” he added.

Cartington Farm runs to just over 1,300 acres, 640 of which is heather hill running up to 300 metres above sea level. There are 120 acres of temporary grassland with 390 acres split between improved and permanent pasture, including productive rigg and furrow.

A further 120 acres of arable ground is contracted out for growing barley and wheat which is sold off the farm.

Cartington Hill is in Higher Level Stewardship and already the grazing has improved for the sheep with less bracken and more grasses as a result of the cattle and also some Exmoor ponies that run on the rough ground.  

“I had done a lot of research. We needed a suckler herd and because half the farm is heather hill with rough grass and bracken we needed cattle with bigger mouths that would thrive and outwinter and the choice came down to Galloways or Highland cattle,” said Richard.

“We decided on the Galloways and in 2017 we bought 10 in-calf heifers from the Beanley herd at Hedgley Farms near Powburn where the manager Vicky Hogg has been a great help to us. We have been really fortunate that there a lot of good farmers in the area who have been prepared to share their knowledge with us,” he added.

“I could see that the Galloways would calve on the hill but I hadn’t worked with cattle for about 30 years,” said Clare. “It has been quite easy to get back into handling the Galloways. I’m confident with them. Richard walks around the cows when he’s checking them which helps keep them quiet.”

All the cattle are registered under the Cartington prefix and the Packers have found membership of the Galloway Cattle Society invaluable for getting additional help and advice.

Since then, a Beanley bull, Jacobite has been purchased as well as a Whitebred Shorthorn bull from Adrian and Janice Wheelright’s Longley herd at Kinross  to run with some of the Galloways and a small herd of four Whitebred cows. Six Galloway heifers were purchased  from Michael and Caroline McCornick’s Barquhill herd at Wigtown in 2018.

A further six Galloway heifers and four cows with calves at foot were purchased in 2020 from John Teare’s Ballavair herd on the Isle of Man to run with Jacobite while the other females go to the Whitebred bull.

Last year the first four home-bred Blue Grey heifers were sold at the Newcastleton sale where they averaged £960 a head aged between 14 and 16 months.

Six Belted Galloways females were bought from Hedgeley and a bull from  Michael Wentworth Waites’ Thornthwaite herd of Belted Galloways at Bampton in Cumbria.

Now the suckler herd numbers more than 50 cows, 33 of which are Galloways.

The majority of the herd calves in the spring on the hill with seven or eight calving in the autumn. The cows are rearing 40-60% of their bodyweight at weaning. They are proving to be very fertile 

When the calves are weaned in December they are housed for four months,  fed silage and some cereal mix purchased from a local farmer. They are then extensively grass fed and reared the following summer.

The Galloway steers are finished off grass at between 26-29 months old with the Blue Greys at 24-26 months. All have graded and killed out well.

The cattle inputs are silage, straw which is grown at home, a small amount of feed for the spring calves when they are housed  and vet and med bills. “They are making a real healthy margin. They are not drawing down fixed costs yet because we are still buying cattle and investing in some machinery - last year we bought a bale unwinder as we are trying to target bracken beds on the hill. Ultimately the cattle will clear a profit,” said Richard.

Richard said: “I had always wanted to sell meat direct to the customer. I had the plan but I didn’t know how to do it!  Then by chance I met a local small holder and butcher Lee Gray from The Christmas Farm, Longframlington, who offered to butcher and pack the meat for sale.”

The beef is vacuum packed and sold chilled in boxes of around 11kg with a variety of cuts including joints, steaks, stewing steak and mince

“We sold our first steer in the autumn of 2020 and we have sold several beef boxes as well as lamb since then. We started a Facebook page and we now have about 60 customers and a waiting list for the meat.

“Selling direct has just fallen into place. It’s serendipity - like a lot of things have been for us on this journey,” said Richard.

“It has been a great experience. The customers come to the farm to collect their meat box and they are able to see how the animals are reared. The feedback has been very positive with customers saying they can taste the difference.”

*** The finished cattle are killing out at between 55-60%. Taking all costs into consideration, the Packers are making between 30-40% more margin than selling at the mart, although they intend to sell through the mart as well as direct sales through the year. 

“Selling the meat direct to the customer has to be attractive on many fronts to the customer, not just what is being sold but also the pricing of the product,” said Richard.

“We really wanted to attract people to the product, but also for them  to come along and see the farm and give them a chance to have conversations , to do that we didn’t feel we could give the product a premium price even though we do believe it is a top class product

“We have priced the boxes at £110 and have been reliably told the equivalent would retail for upwards of £180 but our mentality is we are still making a better margin this route and we are having no difficulties in selling our product and generating the conversations, which had been our goal. Its important not to be greedy,” he added. ***

Like the need for the low-input cows, the sheep enterprise has had to change to reduce costs and management and dovetail with the cattle.

The farm used to run a flock of 700 ewes, 400 of which were Mules and Texel crosses which were lambed inside.

Now there are 600 ewes, 300 of which are pure Lleyns. There are 150  Blackface ewes, half of which are bred pure and the remainder go to the Lleyn to generate a Lleyn mule which can run on the hill. These crossbred females go to the New Zealand Texel which the Packers have found to be hardy and easily lambed because of a smaller head.

All the ewes are lambed outside on the pasture fields. Three quarters of the lambs are finished off the farm off grass with the rest sold store with no supplementary feed.

“We used to buy between 16 and 20 tonnes of feed a year for the ewes - last year we purchased four tonnes,” said Richard.

“There are a lot of things we can’t control and looking to the future is a bit of second guessing,” said Richard. “Going with the Galloways surely has to be the right choice. They are grass fed, low cost, productive animals that spend all year outside and because of their non selective grazing they are improving the habitat and the environment. We are also seeing that people are more keen to buy locally grass  reared meat and we believe you can taste the difference”

After 15 years living in the South East of England, Russ Ireland felt the draw of returning home to farm in the Lake District with his family - and he chose Galloway cows to run alongside the Herdwick ewes on the farm’s rough, Open Access land.

Russ is the third generation of is family to farm Newhouse Farm, Drigg, near Holmrook on the west coast of Cumbria since 1948.

The farm extends to around 1,400 acres of mostly marginal land. The majority of the land is sand dune and lowland heath with some saltmarsh - and the Galloways are proving an efficient and environmentally friendly choice.

“I left home at 18 to go to university. After finishing, I moved to the South East of England where I met my wife and started a family,” said Russ, who studied zoology and worked in IT before returning to Cumbria in 2012. 

“After 15 years away from the farm and with young children approaching school age we decided the time was right to move back home and help my dad on the farm. 

“Now able to work on the farm full time, we decided to get some cattle to complement the sheep enterprise. Newhouse Farm was no stranger to Galloway cattle as my dad had a pedigree herd in the 1970s and 80s so it didn’t take much thought as to what breed we should go for!”

Newhouse Farm is home to Russ and his wife Faye and their children Elliot, 11, Chloe 10, and Spencer, seven, who enjoy working alongside Russ’s parents Norman and Beryl.

Russ said: “We needed cattle that would thrive on poor quality grazing, out-winter and require very little maintenance. Galloways tick all the boxes.

“We also wanted cattle that were quiet and easily handled. Our rough grazing land is Open Access land and we get lots of people/dogs on the land so we cannot have wild cattle. Galloways and other native breeds, if handled correctly and with plenty of human contact, are great to deal with.”

While numbers can fluctuate from year to year, the Irelands run around 60 pedigree Galloway cows.

A proportion of the herd is put to a Whitebred Shorthorn bull and the others are put to the Galloway with calving in May and June.

The herd remains on the rough grazing all year round, but they are brought into enclosed pastures for calving.

The Irelands have calved them out on the extensive grazing land but they were difficult to find and they were easily missed in the undulating dune areas. This was taking too much time looking for them so the cows are now kept handy during calving. 

The cows and calves remain out on the rough grazing until February until the calves are weaned and housed for a few months. The cows remain outside.

The Blue Grey and Galloway Bullocks are mostly sold privately at around 16-17 months to regular buyers, some of these are sold to a local fell farmer who grazes the fells around Scafell Pike. Bullocks are also sold occasionally at the Kirkcambeck sale at Longtown.

Blue Grey heifers are also sold at 16-17 months old at Newcastleton. Trade for the Irelands in 2021 was very good but what was most pleasing for the family was that the buyers were return customers.

Galloway heifers, usually in calf, are sold privately or sold at the pedigree sales at Carlisle. 

When it came to purchasing foundation stock for the herd the Irelands looked for animals with the right characteristics for the farm.

Heifers were purchased from a number of herds including Kilnstown, Romesbeoch, Drumhumphry and Barlaes to name a few.

The current stock bull is the home bred bull Newhouse Prince, sired by Top of Kilnstown out of Barlaes Nancy 147th.

“We are really pleased with the way Prince has bred. His offspring have proven to be very smart with great skins and plenty of character. His daughters, Molly and Sarah 3rd recently taking best pair of calving heifers and Molly champion female at the Carlisle Autumn Sale. Our only problem is that we are limited on the number of cows we can use him on.

“We added Ace of Whitehill to the herd which we purchased at the Carlisle 2021 Spring Sale. We ran him with a handful of heifers this past summer but next year we plan to use him with more cows. We are excited to see how he breeds.

“Top of Kilnstown was our first stock bull and he has bred some fantastic daughters, many of which we have retained in the herd and they are full of the traits we were after.

“Up to now, these have been put to a Whitebred Shorthorn bull but it will be nice to see how Ace gets with them.

Herd numbers are at their optimum so the concentration now is on breeding quality into the herd.

A lot of females have been retained in the herd and Russ is pleased with what has been bred at Newhouse.

The emphasis is on many of the traditional traits in the Galloway breeding such as a thick brown coat and good square head but Russ says attaining these traits does not mean the cattle should be small and “old fashioned”. The aim is to breed a good sized animal, good on its feet with plenty of character. 

“We are really pleased with the way the cattle have done, in terms of the land they have reduced the rank grasses, in turn improving the grazing for the sheep. The cattle are very mobile and can move around a great deal,” said Russ.

“We have an estuary that runs through the land and the cattle think nothing of crossing through it even swimming it at high tides which is very nerve racking if you happen to witness it!”

The Galloways complement the bought-in Herdwick draft ewes, which are put to the Texel and the gimmers are retained.

The first crosses are put back to the Texel and the Texel cross Herdwicks do well on the rough grazing land and rear good lambs. A proportion of lambs are sold finished straight off grass, the rest are sold store.

The farm is in a Higher Level Stewardship scheme which is coming to an end.

“I am concerned about how the imminent changes to the support available to us will impact us, both financially and in terms of how we manage the land.

“Probably like a lot of farmers, I am concerned with the direction the policies are going in that there is too much emphasis on ‘re-wilding’ and ‘nature recovery’ and not enough thought on national food security, traditional livestock farming practices and the rural communities they contribute to. 

He said: “We are very limited by the marginal land we have. We try to be as efficient as possible by keeping costs down and we try to make the best of what we produce and sell.

“Farmers traditionally re-invest any profits back into their businesses; if farm incomes are reduced then all those industries that feed off farmers will have to take a hit as well.

“It’s really good to see that livestock has been a good trade for the last couple of years but it’s only where it should be. Over the last few decades our costs have gone up astronomically, but the price we got for our livestock has gone up relatively little. Let’s hope the trend we have seen the last couple of years continue and we get a decent price for our produce.”

Native cattle have proved to be the right choice for the Ireland family and Russ can see why other producers have also been convinced:

“Aside from the stewardship schemes that promote native breeds I think one of the main reasons is that native breeds are more sustainable, low input, low maintenance than some of the continental breeds.

“The bigger continental breeds take more looking after. It’s ok having massive calves but you have to get them out alive and there are costs associated with that such as caesareans and the impact on the cow. We haven’t had to assist with a calving for the past two years. The calves are usually up and sucking in very little time.

“Native breeds also taste better. Many large meat processors seem to have lost touch with the slow maturing, grass fed process that native breeds follow. The breed itself and the feeding make native breeds tastier and more flavoursome. I know a number of local butchers and farm shops that only sell meat from native breed cattle,” he added.

Friday 5th November 2021

Champion – Newhouse Molly sells for 1900gns

Galloways were very much in demand at the Society’s Autumn show and sale held at Harrison and Hetherington’s Carlisle Mart on Friday 5th November, 2021 resulting in a 100% clearance in the female section and 6 new purchasers from the Highlands, Borders, England and Wales establishing new herds.

Receiving the top price of the day was Erica 14th of Ottercops, from the dispersal of Mr Tom Robinson’s, Ottercops herd from Newcastle Upon Tyne - this incalf heifer by the homebred Nancy Boy of Ottersops sold in calf to the Whitebred Shorthorn to noted Bluegray breeders Messrs RH & JR Little, Park Nook, Bewcastle, Carlisle for 2900gns. The dispersal then produced the next two top prices of 2600gns and 2200gns- Hunny 10th of Ottercops, again by Nancy Boy of Ottercops, sold in calf to the Whitebred Shorthorn to Messrs Bell, Northallerton, North Yorkshire and Poppy of Ottercops, a Dun cow, by Xavier of Ottercops Moss (Dun) sold with her Dun bull calf at foot to Ayrshire member, Mr D Robertson, Craigdarroch, Glenafton, respectively. There were another seven in calf cows which realized 1900gns or above, two were from the rated Atlantis family, which added notable quality to calves born - Atlantis 26th and Atlantis 27th sold for 1950gns and 1900gns, both sired by Drumhumphry Wizard 2nd and in calf to Ottercops Ceasar the home bred Whitebred Shorthorn sold to Messes Strang Steel, for a new herd at Hawick and Mr A Haggas, Grove Farm, Otterburn, Skipton respectively . Two Meraxes of Ottercops daughters then made 1950gns and 1900gns - Rose 5th of Ottercops an March 2018 born cow sold to Messrs Strang Steel and Mr Haggas purchased Joyce 11th of Ottercops for 1900gns again both sold in calf to the homebred Whitebred Shorthorn. Also at this money and purchased by Mr Haggas was Lizzie 3rd of Ottercops, another Drumhumphry Wizard 2nd daughter and out of Lizzie 460 of Whitehill, she was sold incalf to the Galloway bull – Nancy Boy of Ottercops. Messrs Flintoft, Yetholm purchased Hunny 9th and Kathleen 2nd of Ottercops for 1900gns, these May 2018 born cows sold in calf to the Whitebred Shorthorn and are sired by Meraxes of Otercops and Drumhumphry Wizard 2nd respectively. Maiden heifers sold to a top of 1600gns for Erica 15thth of Ottercops, this Nancy Boy of Ottercops daughter sold to Messrs Wallace, Farney Shields, Ninebank, Hexham and from the same family and sired again by Nancy Boy – Erica 16th of Ottercops sold for 950gns to RH & JR Little, Park Nook, Bewcastle.

Poppy of Ottercops with her bull calf at foot sells for 2200gns

The female champion was Newhouse Molly from father and son team Norman and Russ Ireland, Newhouse Farm, Drigg, Holmrook, Cumbria, this May 2020 born incalf heifer is by Newhouse Prince who is a Top of Kilnstown son, which was purchased at the 2013 Castle Douglas show and sale for 2800gns and out of Parkhead Molly. She is off home with Messrs Elliot, Burnfoot, Ewes, Langholm for 1900gns. Mr Elliot also purchased the next Newhouse heifer in the ring – Newhouse Sarah 3rd, she is the same way bred as the champion and is out of Culmark Sarah who is a Norrie of Romesbeoch daughter, this 3rd prize heifer was knocked down for 2000gns. Both heifers sold in calf to Ace of Whitehill, who was purchased at the 2021 Carlisle spring sale for 4300gns.

Reserve Champion Edna 80th of Kilnstown sells for 1400gns

Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Bewcastle received the reserve champion award for Edna 80th of Kilnstown, this March 2020 born heifer is by Prince of Brockstone and out of Enda 63rd of Kilnstown who is by Coldplay of Fingland, she was purchased by Mr D MacLean, Achnasheen, Rossshire for 1400gns. Mr MacLean also purchased Kilnstown’s other offering – Hilda 8th of Kilnstown, this April 2020 heifer again by Prince of Brockstone and out of Hilda 5th of Kilsntown who is another Coldplay daughter, sold for 1600gns.

Regular consignor Mr W McMorran, Miefield, Tywnholm, Kirkcudbright sold the first Galloway in the ring for 1900gns, this Richard of Miefield daughter and out of Brownie 123rd of Miefield sold with her Bluegrey heifer calf at foot to Messrs Wood, Kingledores, Broughton, Biggar for 1900gns. Miefield’s five heifers with Bluegrey calves at foot averaged £1648.50.

Leading prices:
Erica 14th of Ottercops (incalf heifer) 2,900gns
Hunny 10th of Ottercops (incalf heifer) 2,600gns
Poppy of Ottercops (cow with bull calf at foot) 2,200gns
Newhouse Sarah 3rd (incalf heifer) 2,000gns
Rose 5th of Ottercops(incalf heifer) 1,950gns
Atlantis 26th of Ottercops 1,950gns
Newhouse Molly (incalf heifer) 1900gns 
Joyce 11th of Ottercops 1900gns
Atlantis 27th of Ottercops 1900gns
Lizzie 3rd of Ottercops 1900gns 
Hunny 9th of Ottercops (incalf cow) 1900gns
Kathleen 2nd of Ottercops (incalf cow) 1900gns
Brownie 129th of Miefield (incalf heifer) 1900gns

Averages:
1 bull @ £1050 (-£498.75)
19 heifers in milk/ in Calf @ £1745.21 (+£188.79)
15 bulling heifers @ £1024.10 (-£59.02)

Ottercops Dispersal 
58 Galloway cows served and/or suckling @ £1367.89
2 Galloway incalf heifers @ £2887.50
7 Galloway maiden heifers @ £937.50
1 Galloway bull @ £682.50

Prize List

Pedigree Bull
1st Admiral of Kilnstown, exhibited by G & A Todd¸ Blakehope, Otterburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Pedigree Heifer in calf/milk
1st Newhouse Molly, exhibited by N & BN Ireland, Newhouse, Drigg sold to Messrs Elliot, Burnfoot, Ewes, Langholm for 1900gns 
2nd Forget Me Not of Nether Linkins, exhibited by GJ Kyle, Spout Bank, Walton, Brampton, Cumbria to Messrs Waugh, Row, Roadhead, Carlisle for 1750gns
3rd Newhouse Sarah 3rd, exhibited by N & BN Ireland to Messrs Elliot, Burnfoot for 2000gns

Other leading Prices
Brownie 129th of Miefield, exhibited by W McMorran, Miefield, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright to RE Wood & Sons, Kingledores, Broughton, Biggar for 1900gns

Pedigree Senior Bulling Heifer
1st Lady Nancy 843 of Whitehill, exhibited by WJ Henderson, Whitehill, Lockerbie to G & C Neve & Son, Haining House Farm, Lambley, Brampton, Cumbria for 1250gns 
2nd Lady Nancy 824 of Whitehill, exhibited by WJ Henderson to G J Kyle, Spout Bank, Brampton for 1080gns 
3rd Myrtle 819 of Whitehill, exhibited by WJ Henderson to G J Kyle, Spout Bank for 1080gns

Pedigree Bulling Junior Heifer
1st Edna 80th of Kilnstown, exhibited by Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Bewcastle, Carlisle to Mr D MacLean, Achnasheen for 1400gns 
2nd Hilda 8th of Kilnstown, exhibited by Kilnstown Farms Ltd to Mr D MacLean for 1600gns
3rd Erica 15th of Ottercops, exhibited by T Robinson, Ottercops to Messrs Wallace, Farney Shields, Ninebank, Hexham for 1600gns

Female Champion - Newhouse Molly, exhibited by N & BN Ireland

Reserve Champion – Edna 80th of Kilnstown, exhibited by Kilnstown Farms Ltd

Male Champion - Admiral of Kilnstown, exhibited by G & A Todd, Blakehope, Otterburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Annual Autumn Show and Sale including the dispersal sale of the Ottercops Herd

At Harrison and Hetherington, Carlisle on Friday 5th November

114 - Pedigree Galloway Cattle comprising : 2 bulls and 39 females
Followed by the dispersal sale of the Ottercops Herd
comprising: 1 bull, 61 cows served and/or suckling, 2 incalf heifers
4 bulling heifers & 5 heifer calves

Catalogue now available and on line here

It is with much sadness we inform members and friends of the passing of Vivien Maxwell of the Ben Lomond Herd, below are details of the funeral arrangements:-

Monday 25th October at 12 noon at Stirlingshire Crematorium, Falkirk Road, Bannockburn Stirling, FK7 8AJ.

If you would like to watch the service on line the details are as follows:-
Webcast: https://watch.obitus.com
Username: zuqe2396
Password: 293074

The Scottish Fatstock Club has announced classes for the new Pedigree Calf Section which will include Galloway breed classes. There will be four classes to include Bull and heifer born between 1st July 2020 and 31st December 2020 and Bull and Heifer born after 1st of January 2021 at this popular winter event. The Galloway Cattle Society is delighted to inform members all entries for these new classes will be included in the Society’s show grant fund.

 

Exhibitors are also reminded about the Galloways steer class and the special prize of £250 if a Galloway secures the Native Champion donated by the Galloway Cattle Society and the Galloway Cattle Young Handlers Classes for anyone under 26 years of age exhibiting a Galloway.

Entries close on the 8th October, 2021 and full details, schedule and entry form can be found at http://www.fatstockclub.co.uk/

Judge:   Mr Andrew Hunter Blair, Nether Cleuch, Dalry, Castle Douglas.  

The Great Yorkshire Show was back and it did not disappoint -  a four day event for this year only and fewer admission tickets sold due to Covid restrictions meant the show was able to go ahead and  exhibitors were able to show and promote their stock and catch up with family, friends and customers.

 

The quality of Galloways on show, did not disappoint either, a splendid show was in front of young breeder Andrew Hunter Blair, Nether Cleuch, Dalry, Castle Douglas.  He found his champion in the heifer class, - Blackcraig Blondchen A898 from John, Ann and Iain Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock.  This rising 3 year old heifer is by Blackcraig Xtreme and out of the bought in cow - Blondchen 3rd of Auchenhay, a cow full of Blackcraig breeding.  Blondchen was reserve breed champion at the recent  Royal Highland Showcase and shown in calf to Blackcraig Yahoo. On placing his champion,  Andrew Hunter Blair said “This heifer oozes style  which was evident as soon as she walked into the ring, she is also full of meat and breed character and is very hard to fault”

The reserve breed champion  and junior champion was Phoebe of Balgray from David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie.  This September 2019 born heifer is by Troloss Impeccable a bull which is shared with Alan McClymont at Kirkstead and has produced sons to 16000gns.  This stylish heifer then went on to receive the junior interbreed champion – a great result for the Balgray team on their first time showing at the show.  

The reserve junior champion was Warehams Nancy 2nd from Jason and Sarah Wareham, Tottingworth Farm, Broadoak.  This March 2020 heifer is by 8000gns Troloss Legend which was purchased at the spring sale in 2018 and  out of Bowanhill Nancy 50th.  She  was on her first show outing.

 

It was great to be back at the Yorkshire  show ground and the warm welcome we receive in the Galloway bar from David, Debs and Emma always makes the show stand out.  On behalf of all the exhibitors and members we would like to thank you for all your hard work and hospitality and we very much look forward to the 2022 show.  

The Society would also like to thank David and Debs for sponsoring £100 cash award for  new exhibitor  (not shown in the last 3 years) which this year was won by J & A Finlay, Blackcraig.

Leading Awards

The Cholmondeley Perpetual Trophy for Galloway Champion:-   J  & A Finlay – Blackcraig Blondchen A898

Yorkshire Agricultural Society Cash Prize for Champion:-   J  & A Finlay – Blackcraig Blondchen A898

Slitheroford Perpetual Trophy for Group of Three Animals owned and bred by exhibitor  :-   D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray

Pair of Animals by the same sire:-   DR & DJ Heath, Ravensfield.

Galloway Junior Champion :-  D & R Cornthwaite - Phoebe of Balgray (ET)  

Female Champion:-   J  & A Finlay – Blackcraig Blondchen A898

 

Class Placings

Bull any age

No Entries 

Cow any age

1st Blackcraig Dora May U450  18/09/2012, by Blackcraig Rasputin - exhibited by J & A Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock, Castle Douglas.
2nd Ravensfield Sapphire  08/01/2017, by Fergal of Upper Buckna – exhibited by DR & DJ Heath, Ravensfield, Wroot
3rd  Lunar Eclipse of Balgray 19/04/2015 by Ballavair Black Magic – exhibited by D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockebie. 
4th Strathurr Bertha A185 04/10/2018 by Blackcraig Volume  - exhibited by Mr R Marshall, Meikle Wartle Inverurie , Aberdeenshire

Heifer, born on or between 1st September 2018 and 31st August, 2019.

1st Blackcraig Blondchen  A898 03/09/2018 by Blackcraig Xtreme - exhibited by J & A Finlay
2nd Ravensfield Ruby 18/01/2019 by Fergal of Upper Buckna – exhibited by DR & DJ Heath

Heifer, born on after 1st September 2019

1st  Phoebe of Balgray (ET) 04/09/2019 by Troloss Impeccable  - exhibited by D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie
2nd Wareham’s Nancy 2nd 22/03/2020 by Troloss Legend – exhibited by J & S Wareham, Little Tottingworth Farm, Broadoak, Heathfield, East Sussex
3rd Penelope of Balgray (ET) 04/09/2019 by Troloss Impeccable  - exhibited by D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie

Group of Three Animals

1st   D & R Cornthwaite,  Lunar Eclipse, Penelope and Phoebe of Balgray.    

Pair of animals by the same sire

1st              DR & DJ Heath, Ravensfield Sapphire and Ruby 
2nd             D & R Cornthwaite – Phoebe and Penelope of Balgray  

New Chairman of the Galloway Cattle Society is well known Borders farmer, Mr Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, Selkirk, with Mr Peter Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Dalry being elected as Vice Chairman.

Alan, his wife Hilary and two sons, Sam (16) and Oliver (15) have farmed Kirkstead since 1967 and have contract farmed the neighbouring farm, Dryhope for the last 13 years. The family have 2000 Blackface ewes, 30 traditional Blueface Leicesters and 50 Pure Galloway cows which they hope to increase to 70 or 80 head in the next few years.

“I am honoured and privileged to have been elected chairman of the GCS especially in these exciting times for the breed. Over the past few years, the Society have engaged in more promotional work and this is bearing fruit, increased demand and averages, new members and exciting plans in place to grow demand for Galloway Beef across the UK” explained Mr McClymont

The Society’s new Vice Chairman is Mr Peter Hunter Blair of the Nether Cleugh herd which is based on the 150 acres hill farm, on the banks of Carsfad Loch, between Dalry, Carsphairn. Peter farms with his wife Nancy and their three children, Natasha, Duncan and Andrew. The family have 25 Galloways and their followers, which are out wintered with surplus heifers and bulls sold for breeding at Society sales.

Robert McTurk, Barlaes, Dalry was elected Junior Vice Chairman. Robert runs the Barlaes herd, which is one of the oldest herds and can be traced back to the first entry in the Society’s herd book with his wife Louise and their three sons, 21 year old David, 23 year old Peter and Willam 25. The family’s 80 head of Galloways and 1500 Blackface ewes run between 3500 acres of Barlaes, Glenhowl and Lorg.