Miniature Galloways

About Miniature Galloways

Enjoy Galloway hardiness, quiet temperament and mothering ability in a smaller package: Miniature Galloways.

Miniature Galloways are a smaller version of the popular Galloway cattle, offering all the characteristics and qualities of Galloways. They are suitable for first time cattle owners, and are ideal for herds on small blocks. They come in three breeds corresponding to their larger counterparts in the Galloways Australia Studbook: Miniature Galloway (black, dun or red), Belted Miniature Galloway and White Miniature Galloway.

Maximum height for bulls is 125cm at hip and for cows, 120cm.

Characteristics

This is a longlived breed which withstands extremes of temperature and climate. Miniature Galloways have a double coat of hair. They are non-selective grazers, with the ability to forage and thrive in marginal conditions. Their non selective grazing makes them friendly to the environment and an aid in pasture management, eg for horse owners.

Miniature Galloways cows are extremely fertile and regularly produce a vigorous live calf. They calve easily, look after their calves well and have an abundant supply of milk. Miniature Galloway bulls are noted for their fertility.

History

Galloways are an ancient breed. The black or dun polled cattle of Galloway (south-west Scotland) were well-known in the late 16th century for their tender meat. In 1878 a dedicated Galloways herdbook was set up; previously Galloway cattle had been recorded in the Polled Herdbook of Great Britain.

There are records of Galloway cattle being imported into Australia in 1951. However, there is evidence to suggest that Galloways were here long before that.

Galloways have produced several successor breeds: the Belted Galloway over 350 years ago and the White Galloway less than 100 years ago. Now Miniature Galloways are being bred for today's market.

There is no known 'miniature' gene in Galloways. Some registered Galloways are noticeably smaller than average. At South Bukalong (near Bombala, NSW) Galloway cattle with an admixture of other breeds developed into a Miniature herd of Galloway type. Cattle originating from Bukalong ancestry now form the Foundation Miniature Galloway stock in Galloways Australia's Miniature register. As well, registered standard Galloways which meet Miniature height limits can be registered as Eligible for Miniature Showing. Their descendants can eventually gain full registration as Miniature Galloways (see below).

Ensuring Reliable Miniature Genetics

Animals grown in stressful conditions (eg drought, cold, poor quality feed) may not reach their full genetic size potential and appear to be 'miniatures' when they actually carry larger size genetics. Galloways Australia takes great care to ensure reliable miniature genetics for breeders, buyers and sellers of Miniature Galloways:

• All animals in the GA Miniature Galloway register have their heights measured at 18 months, 3 years, 5 years and at time of sale. Height audits are carried out by GA from time to time.
  
• Animals that outgrow the Miniature height limits & their progeny are de-registered.
• Galloways eligible for the Galloways Australia register, & which meet Miniature Galloway height requirements, may be entered into the Miniatures register. These animals are marked EMS 1 (Eligible for Miniature Showing 1). EMS-derived cattle carry the EMS marker for several generations, so that it is clear there are non Miniature animals in their recent pedigree.
• GA requires 4 unbroken generations of EMS bloodlines to pass all its height checks. Then animals in the next generation are registered as Miniature Galloways without any EMS suffix. This is based on observed patterns in genetic science, that 5 generations are needed to develop consistently inherited traits.
• To avoid errors that could reduce reliability of GA Miniature Galloways' genetics, EMS numbering is auto-calculated.
  

Our Miniature Galloways Register

You can search Galloways Australia's Miniatures register on this website. Here is a guide to notations you will find there:

Galloways Australia abbreviations:

FM: Foundation Miniature. Animal's genetics include Bukalong Miniature cattle (& may include registered Galloways too)

EMS: Eligible for Miniature Showing. Animal meets Miniature height requirements for its age, & it has some registered Galloway genetics (rather than registered Miniature Galloway) within the last 4 generations

• EMS 1: Animal was a registered Galloway, transferred at owner's request to the Miniature Galloways register
• EMS 2: Animal has an EMS 1 parent
• EMS 3: Animal has an EMS 2 parent
• EMS 4: Animal has an EMS 3 parent

Other abbreviations:

These result from animals that came into our register from another association, either in Australia or overseas:

(AGA.......), eg (AGA MIN): Animal registered with another society which uses these initials in its register

POIS: Progeny of Imported Stock. Some overseas Galloway societies have different registration requirements

MF: Mannosidosis Free. Animal tested for a genetic disease & its progeny

More Information

For more information about Galloway cattle and Galloways Australia, visit our webpage on this site and Galloways Australia's own website www.gallowaysaustralia.com.au

Articles about Galloways in Australia

Get Going with Galloway Greatness
Galloway Cattle are Unique
Galloway Cattle - THE FACTS
Galloway Maternal & Carcase Research
History of Galloway Breed