HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2000, 2000-03-15, Page 38Grey Twp. farm raises champion Galloways
Winners
In the top photo, cow and calf, Suncrest Foxy and Suncrest
Jewel, the Reserve Senior Champion Female at the 1999
Royal Winter Fair are pictured with owners Kathy and
Clayton Salter, and Karen Mcllwraith (right). Bottom photo
shows Suncrest Jasper, Bull Calf Champion with Marie
Blake and Mclllwraith.
When it comes to raising quality
breeding stock, the Salters and
Blakes of Suncrest Farms, outside
Molesworth seem to have it figured
out.
Clayton and Kathy Salter, daugh
ter Marie and her husband Greg
Blake came home from this year's
Royal Winter Fair in Toronto with a
number of awards. Certainly no
strangers to Royal success, the 1999
awards were the crowning achieve
ment in three years of attendance.
The quality of Suncrest stock was
noted from the beginning with wins
in both previous years for Champion
Reserve Female. This year, there
fore, Kathy said she had her sights
on even more, telling the competitor
who had come away those years with
the Grand Champion Male Award
skills.
“It’s pretty good to get to the top of
one day,” said Blake.
The Salter family, whp also have a
farm in Macks Creek Missouri, raise
Galloway cattle because of the
nature of the animals and the quality
of the beef. “I have three small girls
who wouldn’t be afraid to be in the
pen. The Galloways are very hands
on.”
So much so, Blake says, that they
attract a good deal of attention from
the public at shows. “Mind you, peo
ple tend to be a little bolder when it’s
a child holding the halter.”
Preparation for the shows starts in
early August for September with the
breaking of calves. This is done
every other day for two to three
hours depending on the temperature.
Yearlings, says Blake are “pretty
well halter broke.”
Prior to the show every animal
gets a makeover. “They’re bathed,
blow-dried and clipped.”
Galloways are known for their
heavy coat which permits them to be
outside rather than stabled in.
In picking champion stock, judges
are looking at many things.
“Definitely the footing,” said Blake,
“and to get a bit of age out of the
bull.” Also considered is the overall
appearance, the length in the hind
quarters and good width. ‘That’s
where the better cut of meat comes
from,” says Blake.
In bulls they also look at testicle
development.
And what it means for a breeder is
recognition. She told of someone
who had purchased a heifer from
them before they went to the Royal.
While there they were offered $500
more for that same heifer. “The fel
low wasn’t interested in selling
though, even for a profit. But when
you start talking of that kind of
money that fast, it’s pretty good.”
“Your name is out there as some
one having quality cattle,” said
Blake.
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that this time, “she was going to
take” the prize.
Unfortunately, this was not to be.
“We got Reserve Senior Champion
Male and didn’t hang onto the
female, winning Reserve Senior
Champion Female.”
However with 73 showing, com
ing second twice was “pretty good,”
she says.
But that isn’t the end of the acco
lade for Suncrest Farms which has
also taken the prize for Bull Calf
Champion, and Get of Sire, which is
a group of three from one bull. The
real feather in the cap, however, was
the capture of the Daily Herdsman
for the Beef Barn. This award is pre
sented every day at the Royal to a
breeder for presentation of their ani
mals, as well as their public relations
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