Galloways make royal return after long search for genetics

Karandrea Topsy, a May 2022-drop heifer, was named junior champion and champion female in the Galloway judging.

Judy McCallum, Mount Torrens, established her new Whola Hut Galloway stud mid-way through last year, with her first heifers making the trip to Adelaide.

Ms McCallum has long been associated with the Belted Galloway breed but following the 2019-20 bushfires through the Adelaide Hills, she was left without fences for two years, leading to the decision to sell her cows.

When it came time to start again, she decided to go a different path.

"The solid Galloway is endangered, so I thought perhaps I could go a little broader," she said.

"I contacted almost every breeder in Australia and finally I found someone on the east coast of Victoria that could part with two.

"I bought the cows sight unseen and pregnant."

Ms McCallum was finally able to pick up her two cows and their two heifer calves - a red and white - midway through 2022 from Karandrea stud.

She said the decision to show came at the request of her fitter Duane Wilson.

Ms McCallum said she was impressed with the animals so far and had plans to do an ET program.

"The breed is so easy to handle and - like Belted Galloway - eat almost anything," she said.

Ms McCallum said she was likely to continue bringing the Galloways in.

"Showing is addictive," she said.

Judge Scott McKay, Newlyn, Vic, said the May 2022-drop heifer was clean through the front end.

"She parades very well, is a very tidy heifer from front to back, with plenty of depth," he said.

"She was a worthy winner."