2. The point of all this is that if is essential to recognise the history of the Galloway Breed - including Belties. There are two excellent books on the subject - one by Lord David Stuart - Flora Stuart's father - and one by General Sir lan Hamilton.
3. I think it is very relevant to mention that the Shorthorn Society makes no distinction whatever about Hair Colour or Skin Colour - between White - Red - Roan - Part Coloured or Brindle. Irrespective of Colour it is the Conformation of the Beast and the accepted Breed Characteristics of its body that count.
4. Lord Stuart was strongly opposed to Interbreed Competitions. He made the point that all the Breeds-have been evolved from a variety of sources, with specific objectives in mind. Especially different objectives for different purposes. However he seemed to share normal satisfaction at any Galloway Interbreed Wins at Smithfield. These include Beef Breeds from Southern England or Dairy Breeds or Dual Purpose Breeds and Bos Indicus and Crosses for Tropics and Warmer Climates, and last - but most certainly not least - the Galloway Breed - whatever the Skin Colour - to cope with Highland weather and Highland food and grazing available all the year round.
The point is that the very fact that there are so many different results indicates the fact that no one Breed can perform equally well in all the different circumstances.
So the Breeds range from Chianina to Highland cattle, from Jerseys to Belgian Blues.
5. To keep to my subject, I want to emphasise the meaning and point of the title of my little talk.
What do we really want in the Galloway Beast?
Decorative and Oneupmanship factors ONLY.
Or is it the Basic Qualities which are important - in fact the vital Factors?
But don't let us delude ourselves. There is no long term benefit in pulling your own leg - whichever one you may choose.
7. So therefore my basic belief and Principle Factor.
Let us accept that any BEAUTIFUL coloured Galloways are acceptable - whatever your fancy and whatever any group supporting that colour wishes to define.
But for Heavens sake Stick to - Cling to - Build on - the wonderful Galloway Characteristics of a Good Galloway BEAST.
8. Some people have contended that Belties were an original Breed - some even say THE original GALLOWAY Breed.
However, all the literature and pictures and AVAILABLE records clearly prove that the Blacks, the Duns, the Belties, the Brockets and the Riggits, the Whites and the Reds have over the last 200 or 300 years bred and mixed - back and forth - in a rather RANDOM but very effective way. Riggits have reappeared by mating a White bull and cow together - COP THAT.
This is especially the case in Blacks and Black Belties. But GENES will out, with introduction of Welsh Black LAKENVELDER and who knows what else.
Last year we had a Black calf from the purest of pure Black Belties. We visited a Beltie Stud of the purest of the pure. They were astounded that their Champion cow had a Black calf. They had NO other Galloway or Black cattle on the place. So much for the suggested rigid distinction between Pure Bred and Full Blood Belties.
9. It is interesting to study the rules in different countries. Time does not permit me to detail them all - or indeed the reasons for the variations.
The reasons include:
Some even permitting other Breeds such as Holsteins to come back in and be discounted as handicaps after four or five generations. Now no system is perfect and every system has some justification. However in Australia - which is what I am on about, and what I am pleading about - we have the tightest and most illogical system that I have discovered in my world-wide comparison.
11. It is very interesting to observe that in Australia the Highland Cattle have a welcoming and broad breeding up acceptance programme. We are told they now have nearly 500 members - are prosperous and growing rapidly. Furthermore the Highland Breed and Crosses are growing in acceptability and are far ahead of the Galloways in this respect - the question of comparative merit is in the background.
12. It is interesting to note that some Australian members are importing cattle and/or semen and/or embryos from North American stock belonging to Societies with rules much freer than Australian Rules, and having them accepted into the Australian Herd Book. LOGIC. The mind boggles.
13. So the recommendation I make today, for discussion and consideration, and will later make to my fellow members of the Galloway Cattle Society of Australia, is as follows:-
After each entry there will be a Double Capital Letter - Descriptive of the Colour Pattern and subject to Normal Definition.
Suggestions for some are:-
(b) Shown in the Standard List shown as White or Black-White.
Which seems to me a strong argument to support my proposal for one list with Capital Suffixes.
Please remember United We Stand Divided We Fall.
15. A word on the practical Reward of a Welcoming Breeding Up Programme.
Surely everyone knows that any Breed that has become recently successful in Australia and elsewhere has some sort of programme. This of course includes the Charolais, the Limousins, the Simmentals.
16. It is an interesting item to note that recently in the USA at a Belted Galloway Sale a Pure Bred (Bred Up cow) sold for $USII,000, and a Full Blood cow of very similar quality sold for $US8,000.
17. Now to
return to the Baffling "LACK OF LOGIC" aspect, in the Australian Galloway
Cattle Society.
Secondly - The resultant Black Belted calf can only be registered as a "Pure Bred" Beltie NOT as a Full Blood Beltie.
Thirdly - Yet both Parents are registered as Full Bloods in the Australian Galloway Society Herd Book.
and/or that they are a separate breed to
form their own new Society.
It's up to them. But it seems clear to me that if they persist with their contention something should be done.
Again why - if they (the Black Beltie Full Blood) are a separate Breed - then why are they judged at Shows with the other Belties - Blacks - Duns - Whites, etc.?
19. There seems no doubt that our Australian Society has the most restrictive rules of any Galloway Society in the world - that I have been able to access.
Maybe this is a tribute to our Australian Pioneering Spirit of Dogged Determination, etc.
Well - I make two comments.
Secondly - Some of our more recent settlers are very quick to adapt.
The long and the short and the tall, as the Solders' Song Book says, in a more procreative vein of Army humour.
20. In conclusion may I plead for -
So please adopt my
and Embrace Prosperity. Logical Prosperity for BREEDERS and Success for the GALLOWAY Breed.