View source for Galloway cattle

{{Short description|Breed of beef cattle originating in Scotland}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox cattle breed
| name          = Galloway cattle
| image         = Galloway.jpg
| image_size    = 
| image_alt     =
| image_caption = Cow with calf
| status        = {{ubl|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=144}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2022), local: endangered|{{nobreak|DAD-IS (2022), international: not at risk{{r|dad}} }}|[[Rare Breeds Survival Trust|RBST]] (2021–2022): UK native breeds{{r|rbst}} }}
| altname       = {{ubl|Southern Scots Polled}}
| country       = UK (Scotland)
| distribution  =
| standard      =
| use           = [[beef]]
| nickname      =
| maleweight    = {{ubl|average: {{convert|800|kg|abbr=on|-2|comma=off}}|may exceed {{convert|1000|kg|abbr=on|-2|comma=off}}{{r|cabi|p=180}}}}
| femaleweight  = {{convert|450–600|kg|abbr=on|-2|comma=off}}
| maleheight    =
| femaleheight  =
| skincolour    =
| coat          = {{ubl|solid black|dun|red|[[riggit]]|white{{r|cabi|p=181}}}}
| horn          = [[polled (livestock)|polled]]
| subspecies    = taurus
| note          =
}}

The '''Galloway''' is a Scottish [[list of cattle breeds|breed]] of [[beef cattle]], named after the [[Galloway]] region of [[Scotland]], where it originated during the seventeenth century.

It is usually black, is of average size, is [[polled (livestock)|naturally polled]] and has a thick coat suitable for the harsh climate of Scotland. It is reared mainly for [[beef]].

In 2022 the Galloway was reported by twenty-three countries. The worldwide population stood at about {{val|26800}} head, of which the majority were in Northern Europe, with the largest populations in Denmark and Germany.

== Etymology ==

The word 'Galloway' derives from the name of a people, the {{lang|gd|Gall Gaidheil}}, meaning 'Scandinavian Gaels'.{{r|ocsh}}

== History ==

[[Polled (livestock)|Polled]] black cattle were known in Scotland by the sixteenth century at the latest; one is mentioned in an instrument of [[sasine]] dated 1523.{{r|trow|p=224}}{{efn|name=a}}

The Galloway breed comes from the cattle native to the south-west region of Scotland, first fully developed in the seventeenth century.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url = http://www.britannicrarebreeds.co.uk/breedinfo/cow_galloway.php|title = Britannic Rare Breeds&nbsp;— Galloway Cattle|access-date = 25 July 2015|archive-date = 20 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150620070109/http://www.britannicrarebreeds.co.uk/breedinfo/cow_galloway.php|url-status = dead}}</ref> Originally, there was much variation within this breed, including many different colours and patterns.{{r|trow|p=112}} The original Galloway [[Breed registry|herd book]] only registered black cattle, but the recessive gene for red colour persisted in the population, and eventually [[Dun gene|dun]] Galloways were also allowed into the herd book. As a result, although black is still the most common colour for Galloways, they can also be red and several shades of dun. In 1877, the Galloway Cattle Society was formed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzgalloway.co.nz/galloway_history.html |title=New Zealand Galloway Cattle Society History |access-date=4 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630145107/http://www.nzgalloway.co.nz/galloway_history.html |archive-date=30 June 2015 }}</ref>

The Galloway was introduced in Canada in 1853, first registered in 1872, and the first Galloway registry was introduced in the United States in 1882. In 1911, {{val|35,000}} cattle were registered in the American Galloway Herd Book which was first created in 1882. The British Galloway Society was founded in 1908. They did not recognise dun coloured Galloway cattle, which was met with outrage and this ban was later lifted.<ref name=":0" /> In 1951, Galloway cattle were introduced to Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.gallowaycattle.com.au/breeds/about-galloway-cattle/galloways-in-australia|title = Galloway cattle in Australia|access-date = 4 July 2015|archive-date = 5 July 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150705075038/http://www.gallowaycattle.com.au/breeds/about-galloway-cattle/galloways-in-australia|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In the 1950s, the breed enjoyed much success because the beef market demanded low input (feed) cattle with high quality meat. However, the [[Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|BSE crisis]] (or mad cow disease) caused an export ban in 1990, although there were no cases of BSE found in Galloway cattle. This created a fear associated with cattle, so breed numbers declined.<ref name=":0" />

Since then, there has been a change in demand as bigger leaner carcasses are now favoured. Some of the adjustments made were the adoption of AI and [[Embryo transfer#Embryo transfer in animals|Embryo Transfer]].<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|url = https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/612410/undefined-headline-1004/|title = Galloway cattle history|date =28 June 2015 |access-date = 29 June 2015|publisher=Aberdeen Journals |location=[[Aberdeen, Scotland]] |last =Small |first =Peter |journal=The Press and Journal}}</ref> The breed's original characteristics are now back in demand. This is due to the demand of high quality meat that requires economical production.<ref name="MLPP"/>

From the early nineteenth century, in south-western Scotland and north-western England, Galloway cows were commonly put to [[Shorthorn]] bulls to produce a vigorous [[hybrid (biology)|hybrid]]. If the bull was white, the calf was [[roan (color)|blue roan]] in colour – the [[Blue Grey (cattle)|Blue Grey]]. These were easily recognisable and were much in demand. In the later nineteenth century, [[selective breeding|selection]] of the [[Whitebred Shorthorn]] was begun specifically for production of white sires for these calves.{{r|cabi|p=133|felius|p2=34}}

In 2022 the Galloway was reported to [[DAD-IS]] by twenty-three countries, of which seventeen reported population data.{{r|dad2}} The reported worldwide population stood at about {{val|26800}} head, of which the majority were in Northern Europe; the largest populations were in Denmark and Germany.{{r|dad2}} The breed is 'rare' in the United States and the [[Livestock Conservancy]] classifies it as a breed to 'watch'.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/galloway|title = Galloway cattle - Livestock Conservancy|access-date = 26 September 2015}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==

Galloway cows are of small to medium size, with weights in the range {{val|450|end=–600|u=kg}}; bulls normally weigh approximately {{nobreak|800 kg}}, but may reach weights of over {{val|1000|u=kg}}. Heifer calves are born at a weight of some {{val|35|u=kg}}, and reach a weight of about {{val|250|u=kg}} at an age of thirteen or fourteen months.{{r|cabi|p=181}}

Galloways have a thick double-layered coat that is wavy or curly.<ref name=MLPP>{{Cite book|title = Modern Livestock & Poultry Production|last1 = Flanders|first1 = Frank|publisher = Cengage Learning|year = 2014|isbn =978-1-305-48315-6 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9kJ-BAAAQBAJ&q=galloway+cattle&pg=PA244|last2 = Gillespie|first2 = James|edition = 9th}}</ref> The coat of hair insulates their bodies so well that they have a minimal outer layer of fat on their bodies, which would otherwise create waste at slaughter. This coat sheds out in the summer months and in warmer climates.<ref name="Food" />

It is [[Polled livestock|naturally polled]], without horns.<ref name=":2" /> This breed's shaggy coat has both a thick, woolly undercoat for warmth and stiffer guard hairs that help shed water, making them well adapted to harsher climates.<ref name="Food">{{cite book | title=Foods and Food Production Encyclopedia | publisher=Springer | author=Considine, Douglas M. | year=1995 | location=Boston, MA | page=193 | isbn=1-4684-8513-X}}</ref>

== Use ==

There is evidence of Galloway herds being milked in [[Cumberland]] for cheese production.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Grazier | author=Lana | journal=The Sydney Mail | date=21 December 1901| issue=1614 | pages=5 | oclc=47670318 | publisher=John Fairfax and Sons | location=Sydney}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Belted Galloway]]

== Notes ==

{{notelist|refs=

{{efn|name=a|It is described as '{{lang|la|unum bouem nigrum hommyll}}'.{{r|trow|p=224|rob|p2=344}}}}

}}

== References ==
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ext-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=GBR&specie=Cattle&breed=Galloway&lang=en Breed data sheet: Galloway / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Cattle)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2022.</ref>

<ref name=dad2>[https://dadis-transboundary-ext-ws.web.app/?species=Cattle&transboundary=Galloway&lang=en Transboundary breed: Galloway]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2022.</ref>

<ref name=felius>Marleen Felius (1995). [https://books.google.com/books?id=iXImAQAAMAAJ ''Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia'']. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. {{ISBN|9789054390176}}.</ref>

<ref name=ocsh>Andrew Jennings (2001). [https://www-oxfordreference-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/10.1093/acref/9780199234820.001.0001/acref-9780199234820-e-122 Galloway, origins of]. ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Print: {{isbn|9780199234820}}, ebook: {{isbn|9780191727481}}.</ref>

<ref name=rbst>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210412051331/https://www.rbst.org.uk/watchlist-overview Watchlist 2021–22]. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 12 April 2021.</ref>

<ref name=rob>Joseph Robertson (1857). [https://archive.org/details/illustrationsto01robegoog/page/344/mode/1up ''Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff''], volume III. Aberdeen: The Spalding Club.</ref>

<ref name=trow>{{Cite book|title = A History of British Livestock Husbandry|last = Trow-Smith|first = Robert|publisher = Routledge and Kegan Paul|year = 1959}}</ref>

}}

== Societies ==
{{Commons|Galloway}}
* [http://www.nzgalloway.co.nz/ Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand]
* [http://americangalloway.com/index.php American Galloway Breeders Association]
* [http://www.gallowaycattlesociety.co.uk/ The Galloway Cattle Society of Great Britain and Ireland]
* [http://www.galloway.asn.au/ Australian Galloway Association]

{{British livestock|R.}}
{{Scottish animal breeds}}{{Agriculture of Scotland}}
[[Category:Cattle breeds originating in Scotland]]
[[Category:Galloway]]
[[Category:Conservation Priority Breeds of the Livestock Conservancy]]