Background

The Galloway Cattle and Beef Marketing Association was formed in December 1997 by a number of Australian Galloway cattle breeders to promote and market Galloways to the beef industry.

This association is a formal marketing vehicle consistent with advice given by the NSW Department of Agriculture to have such a forum.

The objectives of the association are: 

· To promote Galloway beef;
· To develop group marketing strategies;
· To foster performance measurement, recording, and quality control systems; and
· To encourage the maintenance of quality Galloway seed stock.

The new association supports attendance at a number of key field days, shows, and carcase competitions. We also organise a numerous social events and farm visits to promote interaction among Galloway breeders and the beef industry.

We recognise that Galloway breeders have a variety of marketing needs, for feeder cattle, grass-fed finished cattle, culls, stud animals and herd bulls. The Association, in collaboration with its members, explores systematically and imaginatively the best avenues for improved member returns from whichever markets they are involved in.

The Association has established an identification process to guarantee the ancestry of our cattle - an attribute that will continue to be important for commercial purposes if we are to market Galloway derived beef as something special.

The Association's registration procedures are based on: 

· Integrity of solid colour purity;
· Separate arrangements for belted and white cattle;
· Recognition of the recency of formal documentation for White Galloways;
· No upgrading but a commercial register;
· Recognition of comparable registrations by other Australian and overseas Galloway associations;
· Simplicity and low cost;
· Overall control by the membership;
· The need for an internationally compatible approach; and
· Integrity of international trade in Galloway genetics. 

The consequences of the registration rules are that: 

· Cattle previously registered with the Galloway Cattle Society of Australia are registerable, but not necessarily in the same category; and
· No animal with a Belted Galloway or White Galloway ancestor will be able to be registered in the solid coloured section; and
· There is a basis for merging pedigree, quality assurance and performance information, for comparing stud and commercial cattle and for a traceability system for stock.

Membership is very cost effective, and is true value for money, for more information please contact:

Nelson Quinn, President 
The Galloway Cattle and Beef Marketing Association
PO Box 309
Hall, ACT, Australia, 2618
Telephone (02) 62302372
Facsimile (02) 62302940

www.gallowaycattle.com.au