The origin of the White Galloway breed is rather vague. There are various theories as to how the breed came about.
One theory from John Wilson of Kirkmabreck is that his father bought a White Galloway cow with a White Galloway calf at foot at a dispersal sale at Drummuckloch Farm near Gatehouse-of-Fleet in 1919. It is thought that this white cow’s ancestors came originally from Drumlanford near Barrhill although this has not been confirmed by anyone living at the present time.
Another theory, this time from Walter McCulloch was that the Cally Estate had a herd of horned, White Park Cattle in their park similar to Chillingham, Cadzow or Vaymol cattle and a white bull mated by accident with a local Black Galloway cow. The off-spring was similar to the White Galloway but was polled. The Black Galloway is naturally polled and with polled being dominant over horned, the horns were thus removed from its off-spring.
Prior to 1980 the White Galloway was fairly scarce with only a few enthusiastic breeders. Since 1980 however when the breed became registered, there has been increasing interest. Because the white markings are a ‘colour variation’ and do not always breed true, the breed can only be registered and is not a pedigree.
A well marked White Galloway should have two black ears, black eyes, black nose, preferably with four black feet and no black markings on the rest of the body.
When mating a White Galloway cow, a White Galloway Bull or Black Galloway can be used. It has been shown by years of breeding White Galloway bulls to White Galloway cows that the distinctive black colour points do disappear. However the use of a Black Galloway bull on a well marked or mismarked White Galloway cow does nearly always produce a well marked White Galloway calf. Over the years mating a Black Galloway bull to a White Galloway cow produces a 50:50 chance of a black or white calf.
Tough, hardy and attractive, this breed is also thriving at the moment.