Riggit Galloway Cattle

Riggit bull Cherrybank Dunstan

‘Riggit Galloway’ are a little known Galloway cattle colour way in New Zealand. They are extremely rare and only a few purebred animals are known of at this time, but with interest being shown by a number of breeders here, Australia and beyond, their future is looking more certain. The Riggit Galloway is a well-documented archaic strain of Galloway cattle dating back from the early 1800s in Scotland, and despite ample historic references, indicating numerous animals, the Riggit have recently only been seen as sporadic throwbacks amongst other Galloway (principally the White Galloway). The thought on this is that the preference for plain black Galloway at the time, along with the various Galloway societies not recognizing them, worked against the Riggit which led to their decline until they became very rare.

Easily identified by the white dorsal stripe running down the spine, the Riggit Galloway’s main body colour can be black, blue/black, red, brown or dun. The white colouration may include a widening of the stripe to cover much of the back, particularly on the hind quarters, white under the keel of the animal and white flashes amongst the solid colour. Other breed points should correspond with the other more common Galloway, including their being naturally polled, of medium frame, with beef conformation, a thick ‘dual’ coat and ability to thrive on poor pasture.

[Adapted from Rare Breeds NewZ February 2013, pages 4–6]

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