Summer Calving

[PureCountry]

Frenchman our Galloway calves averaged 70 pounds. We did get some 90 pounders though, and I've seen Galloway bulls with birthweights higher yet. However, the shape and makeup of these cattle plays a huge role in their ease of calving as well.

We got our first set of Galloway twins on Tuesday morning. It's a rare occurence in the Galloways I'm told, but the cow has an 1/8th Simmental and an 1/8th Tarentaise in her, so I know who's suspect. They were 40 pounds a piece, so I don't think I'll include them in my averages.

[grassfarmer]

When we had pure Galloways in Scotland the birthweights would be upper 70s to mid 80s and they were not big Galloway cows. On crossbred cows I would expect to get solidly 80s birthweights. Maybe you have selected for lower birthweights in Canada? Mr Kaiser's bull catalogue has higher birth weights - maybe he feeds them too well? ;o)
One problem we got occasionally on the purebred heifers was tight calvings due to the thick, almost triangular heads some of the bull calves had. Again that may be due to selection for different types.
I would guess the twin percentage in Scotland to be about .5% Purecountry.

[FRENCHMAN]

Thanks purecountry and grassfarmer...Now I know whats average.