The Cow For Now

“We did some thinking about exactly what it is that the Galloway offers to today’s farmer,” explained Breed Secretary Dorothy Goldie, “and we decided the Galloway needed a new image.”

That new image led to the Galloway being described somewhat differently from its traditional, heritage-led approach. Banners proclaimed it as ‘The Cow For Now’ amongst a barrage of statements focusing on environmental attributes and hardiness.

“It can be seen as quite a traditional breed, perhaps even old fashioned. But when we looked at what the market is demanding - and what younger farmers in particular are looking for - we realised that our ancient, native breed is now at the cutting edge of what our industry wants,” Dorothy added.

“The phrase ‘The Cow For Now’ may have started as a light-hearted joke, but it actually sums things up perfectly.”

Things certainly seem to be going in the right direction for this hardy native Scottish breed after the Society decided that a decades-long, marginalisation of the breed had gone on long enough. Dorothy explained:

“The Galloway was hugely popular in the 1950s and 60s when the market wanted low input cattle that produced high quality beef. But the shift to continental breeds, combined with the loss of several prized Galloway herds in 2001 during foot and mouth, put the breed in a perilous position. So we decided to change that.”

The same characteristics that drove demand in the 1950s are in favour once again as the beef industry rises to the challenge of sustainability. A growth in demand for the Galloway breed is being demonstrated not only in rising membership numbers for the Society, but in record prices being achieved.

A 34 year old world record price for a Galloway was smashed at the Galloway Spring Show and Sale held in Castle Douglas in February when a call of 26000gns was made for the much fancied bull Blackcraig Dyker, from John, Ann and Iain Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock. He went home with new Galloway Society members Glenrath Farms, Langhaugh, Kirkton Manor, Peebles for their 29 head herd, which was recently purchased from Joe Cockburn.

Purchaser Ian Campbell explained his interest in the breed after the sale:

A market development programme launched by the Society five years ago is credited with helping to grow the demand for Galloways. The programme supported international learning journeys for young farmers with an interest in Galloways, and it led to collaboration with industry partners, including Aldi and Scotbeef in Scotland, and Farmison & Co. in the north of England. 2022 saw Galloway Beef as the prime festive beef for the third year in a row in Aldi stores across Scotland, and Galloway Beef is due to feature regularly in Scottish specials throughout 2023.

Policy changes too are helping to drive interest in native breeds, and the Galloway’s reputation as a biodiversityenhancing conservation grazer makes it a popular choice amongst those following a regenerative agriculture approach. The ability for it to thrive on rough grazing, to be outwintered and to calve with minimal intervention means it works well within low input systems.

Reflecting on recent sales, Dorothy added:

“It’s great to see the record being broken and top prices being achieved, but what was really exciting for me was the age profile of those attending our spring sales. The number of younger buyers and new members was very obvious. We would never have seen so many young stockmen at a Galloway sale a decade ago. It shows that the Galloway is now seen as a breed that’s ideal for the farming of tomorrow, and that’s hugely exciting.”