[Prairie_Beef] Belted Galloways

[Kevin Carpenter]

Thank you Mary!

We come through Columbia on our way to the farm on most trips.  What does
the weekend of the 31st look like for you?  We typically leave Friday
night, spend Friday and Saturday nights at the farm and come home Sunday. 
If it would be convenient for you, we could come by early on Saturday (you
tell us what "early" is! <smile>), or come by Sunday afternoon on our
return.

Thanks!

Kevin

> Hi Kevin and Evia,
> We would be delighted to show you our herd and visit with you about
> Belted Galloways.  We started with Herefords about 20 years ago and
> after a few years began shifting to Belted Galloways. We found the BGs
> maintained good condition at times when the Herefords did not--mainly we
> think because the BGs will eat a wider variety of forage than the
> domestic breeds--who are bred primarily to fatten quickly on grain.
>
> We have helped many folks who have never had cattle before.  In fact, I
> frequently get emails and calls from folks who have encountered a new
> situation.  So, we will be glad to share our experiences.
>
> We are available most weekends--and we are easy to find--just a short
> distance off of I-70.  Just let me know when you would like to come.
>
> Mary Sapp
> Bear Creek Farm
> Columbia, MO
> 573 442-6230
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Carpenter [mailto:kevinc at mysticplains.org]
> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 10:55 PM
> To: Sapp, Mary
> Subject: Belted Galloways
>
> Hi.
>
> My name is Kevin Carpenter, and my wife and I live in Ofallon Missouri.
> We also own a 121 acre mostly pasture farm near Kirksville Missouri.  We
> are just getting started raising cattle, with help of a local partner
> who
> exchanges daily care for the right to graze his cattle alongside ours.
> We
> have a small heard currently, (4) "short and solid" cows, (5) heifers,
> and
> (3) steers - mostly Angus and related crosses.
>
> I belong to the Missouri Prairie Foundation and the primary purpose of
> our
> land is to restore it to mostly native grasses and forbs.  Cattle
> provide
> a much needed service and will (we have only been at this for a year)
> help
> us manage the prairie.  Alas, managing a small herd for the cattle barn
> is
> unlikely to ever be profitable.  The locals are strong believers in
> Angus,
> and feedlot cattle.  Thats ok, as long as it works for them.  Myself,
> and
> a few others in the Foundation, are interested in a different approach.
> We believe in grass fed cattle, and believe that the "lightly grazed"
> approach we need is more consistent with a direct marketing effort at
> selling the beef than trying to work within the feedlot system.
>
> As I have been learning (and I'm so wet behind the ears I'm not sure
> I've
> been born yet!), I kept coming across the breed descriptions of
> Galloways
> and feeling like that was the breed we should be looking at.  Things of
> interest to me include their reported compatibility with pasture
> feeding,
> their natural resistance to flies, cold, and tolerance of our wonderful
> summers in Missouri, and genetic strength (being one of the older breeds
> of cattle).
>
> Would it be possible to come and visit you sometime and chat?
>
> If Belties are indeed the right breed for us, we will need a lot of
> advice
> around establishing a herd.  I'd be interested in your experience.
>
> Please let me know if you are interested in making our acquaintance, or
> even perhaps joining our newly created "prairie_beef" e-mail list
> (created
> for those interested in marketing Missouri grass-fed beef).
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Kevin & Evia Carpenter
>
>
>
>