FORMATION OF THE RIGGIT GALLOWAY CATTLE SOCIETY

  His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has graciously lent his support to the recovery of an ancient breed of native cattle.  Once commonplace, the Riggit Galloway had almost disappeared, having been left in the sidelines of modern cattle breeding. This is set to change, with the formation of The Riggit Galloway Cattle Society, which is committed to protecting and promoting this handsome type of cattle.

The Riggit, whilst sharing most characteristics of the more common Black, Dun, Belted and White Galloways, is easily distinguished by its striking white dorsal stripe.  The main body colour is usually black, but there are several duns, and very occasionally red Riggit animals.

 

         Picture of Quickthorn, a black Riggit bull

 
According to the Society’s Secretary, Anton Coaker, of Princetown, Devon, ‘the Riggit was a well-documented element within the original polled Scottish cattle, but became greatly diminished in the late 1800’s. Seemingly this trend was partly driven by the blue grey heifer trade, which required evenly marked animals. From this, a preference was developed for plain black purebred calves, at the expense of the Riggit marked animals.
The phenomenon has a modern parallel in the way the mule gimmer trade dictates breeding trends in both hill ewes, and Blue Faced Leicester rams.’ 

Over a period of several decades, Riggit Galloways were only seen as occasional throwback calves, born when the right combination of old Galloway lines were bred together. Often, this was after the accepted common use of a Black Galloway bull, on specific White Galloway female lines.  These calves were rarely retained, as they simply didn’t ‘fit the mould’.

 

Picture of Black Riggit
calf born 2007

Happily, during the 1980s, a group of Scottish cattle farmers, including the late Flora Stewart, agreed to keep, and breed pure, Riggit marked Galloways once more. One of this group, Society President John Corrie, of Kirkcudbright, says ‘It was a privilege to have been instrumental in saving the Riggit Galloway, and it is fantastic that several new breeders have taken up their cause’.
  Prompted by a small group of devotees, who met after the Castle Douglas bull sale in October 2006, the Society was formed at an inaugural meeting in February 2007.  Breeders and enthusiasts arrived from as far a field as West Cornwall, Scotland, the Midlands, and the New Forest. 

  The Society was subsequently given the very considerable honour of being granted the Patronage of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

  Well known for his interest in for both rare native breeds of livestock, and the extensive production systems common to most Galloway cattle breeders, the support offered by His Royal Highness has encouraged the Society to further its efforts.

During the summer of 2007, Registration Secretary, Anne Bell, of Southwick, Dumfries, began recording the lineage of the cattle bred by the original group in the 1980’s, as foundation stock in a herd book. Mrs Bell’s interest in Riggits started in 2000 with the birth of a stunning Red Riggit heifer calf, ‘Hawthorn’ – pictured with her bull calf in 2005 -, to registered White Galloway parents. ‘She is such a beautiful beast, I had to try and breed some more’ enthuses Mrs Bell.

  At the same time, several herds that have obtained fresh blood, using Riggit bulls on solid coloured Galloways, have been inspected. John Hodge, of Okehampton, Devon, has carried out the inspections. Mr Hodge, who has a lifetime of experience breeding and judging Galloway cattle, says ‘We’ve been keen make sure that we’re not just selecting the best marked cattle, but also that they’re of the hardiest type, as the Galloway should always be able to do well on unimproved and hill ground’.

Finished steers from Riggit Galloways have been producing excellent carcases. Breeder Tim Oliver, of Great Whittington, Northumberland, who also retails Galloway beef, says ‘We have found the Riggits are killing out very well. As well as being easy to rear, they’re a butcher’s dream’.

  The future looks very much brighter for the Riggit Galloway than it has for many years.
Membership of The Society can be either as a full member for those interested in breeding Riggits, or an associate, to follow the breed’s success through a regular newsletter.