Galloways prove their commercial worth

With fattened bullocks easily weighing up to their continental counterparts on lower input systems, it’s easy to see why the breed pays dividends for this upland unit when run alongside a flock of Blackface sheep that has brought in its own share of success. 

The Finlay family first called Blackcraig home around 80 years ago and is now run by husband and wife duo, Jock and Ann Finlay, alongside son Iain while daughter Kelly works here at The Scottish Farmer. Numbering 1700 acres, the farm near Corsock, Castle Douglas, rises to 1350 feet above sea level with little to no ground suitable for producing silage. 

That all changed three years ago when the family purchased a nearby farm named The Corse – where Iain and his partner, Blythe, now stay. They are now able to cut silage on this 360-acre unit which, together with the strong trade received for store bullocks, enabled them to increase cow numbers to the 120 mark. 

                   These cows prove their worth when out-wintered on the hill

While the breed has been at Blackcraig since those early days, with many of the same bloodlines still featuring in the current herd, there’s simply no comparison for Jock. 

“That’s why we’ve always stuck with the Galloway, as nothing will give us the return of grazing available at Blackcraig,” he pointed out.

“We did look at other breeds but nothing, as far as hill cattle are concerned, can compete with them as the cows are hardy and very self-sufficient, mostly calving themselves outside,” he said of the completely out-wintered herd, adding that of 70 cows calved in the back-end only one heifer needed assistance as her calf was coming backwards. 

“They’re also great milkers and very easy to get back in calf. They’re long-living too as we have sent some cows away recently that had 14 or 15 calves, with another having reared a calf every year until she reached the ripe old age of 21.”

While the female portion of the herd speaks for itself it’s the bullocks that are the main driving force at Blackcraig and, having previously fattened bullocks themselves which have hit the 400kg deadweight mark and U4L grades when sold through Highland Meats, the team at Blackcraig now sells bullocks to Calum McGinley, farm manager at Kilnford Farm Shop, near Dumfries.

                    These bullocks are the core of the business at Blackcraig

“We were able to increase cattle numbers because of the good trade we were receiving for store bullocks, as well as being able to produce silage at The Corse. This will be the fifth year we’ve sold privately to Kilnford Farm Shop for ‘a good price’ as 18-month-olds,” commented Jock.

“Plus, Galloway steers finish just as good as other commercial cattle at 23-28 months”, he added, pointing out that, at Kilnford, bullocks are finished with a good cover to get the marbling right which has resulted in a lot of return customers.

But in order to achieve strong bullocks suitable for the table, it all starts with the right genetics and that can be traced back to Jock’s father Hugh, who was ‘very forward thinking back in the day and aimed for the bigger cattle’.

“First of all, our Galloways have got to be good commercial animals so we like them long and with plenty of beef and a big top of flesh. Add to this a good neck and head as well as sound feet and legs to cope with the hill ground,” Jock explained. “More and more folk are now going for the commercial type – bigger bulls with more beef – which is good for the breed as we can compete with other hill breeds.”

                    These two young bull calves are looking promising

As for the current herd, many of the females are heavily influenced by Vindicator of Glenturk, a bull bought for 9000gns in partnership with Todstone many years ago, while a couple of Canadian imports, Diamond B Cosmos and Diamond B Knockout, have made their mark in more recent years.

Another import was an Australian ET bought in partnership with Willie McLean in the shape of Finmac Libby. This show stopper has certainly proved her worth by winning the supreme Galloway title at the Royal Highland Show on three separate occasions and even bred the 2016 champion, Blackcraig Sid. 

In fact, it’s been some run for the Blackcraig team as despite heading to the Ingliston event for ‘just one year’ back in 2000, they’ve since exhibited at the Highland 15 times and headed home with the tri-colour ticket on no fewer than 10 occasions. 

The aforementioned Blackcraig Sid is much more than a pretty face, however, as he, along with Blackcraig Sam and Blackcraig Rasputin, all of which go back to Australian imports, proved their worth as stock bulls by breeding strong females and helping to increase numbers. 

                    The three young bulls for Castle Douglas have plenty style and shape

Another two, Blackcraig Vagabond and Blackcraig Vagrant, are also doing well with the latter siring Blackcraig X Factor, of which a half share sold to Robert McTurk for his Barlaes herd for £10,000 at just 11 months. 

Blackcraig has brought in its fair share of success in the sale ring at Castle Douglas too, as heifers have peaked at 7500gns, a then record price, for an in-calf heifer from the Noreen family back in 2003 while bulls have hit a top of 6500gns for Blackcraig Transam.

This year’s hopefuls destined for Castle Douglas in a fortnight (on Friday, February 17) include six heifers that ran with Jock of Balgray, a 2500gns purchase shared with Craigmoy, as well as three young bulls with plenty of shape and scope about them – Blackcraig Xpel and Blackcraig Excaliber, both by Blackcraig Volume, as well as Blackcraig Xman, by Blackcraig Vagabond. 

                    Four of the six heifers for sale, all of which ran with Jock of Balgray

On the other side of the balance sheet, the Finlays are not shy of forking out the cash for some of the best genetics on offer and paid a record female price of 8500gns for Penningham Susan at the Penningham dispersal in November, 2015. She was bought in partnership with Robert Marshall and the plan is to flush her in the coming months. 

Furthermore, Jock and Ann – who hosted a farm visit during the Galloway World Congress back in August – have enjoyed trips to Canada and Australia to source embryos and semen from some completely unrelated pedigrees to widen the gene pool both at Blackcraig and in Scotland.

But despite having seen many different breeds of cattle over the years, there’s still nothing that can compare with the Galloway at Blackcraig. 

“Lots of folk think they’re small, wild cattle, but they’re anything but. They’re some of the quietest cattle to work with and weigh a lot more than you think. For extensive systems, you’ll not find a better breed. 
“Even the crosses – whether it be by a South Devon, Salers or Whitebred Shorthorn – make great cows. 

“We want to make a living out of them and while we’ve enjoyed our time at shows and sales, it’s not just a pedigree herd but, more importantly, a commercial herd,” Jock concluded.