While our Beltie herd
isn't tasked with doing more than make visitors smile, we're serious
about our breeding program - a program we've maintained for nearly
30 years. See the list of our state and national awards below.
Fearrington Belties are known across the U.S. They benefit from a
full vaccination program and a largely grass diet. We breed for
overall health and belt consistency. The moderate frame size of our
Belties make them adaptable to a range of habitat sizes.
Depending on the size of our herd, we do sell registered breeding
stock occasionally. If you're interested in starting your own Beltie
herd, contact our farmer Robert Flynn via
email.
BELTIE FAQS
Answers to some of the most common Beltie
questions we receive:
Can
I bring my family out
just to see the cows?
By all means - and feel free to snap a few photos of our adorable
bovine.
Will I find Belted Galloway dishes on your menus?
No. Belties are beef cattle, but ours are
strictly here to make you smile.
Do they get too hot in the sun?
No. Their hardy double coat protects against the elements. We also provide cow
showers for them!
Who takes care of the Fearrington Belties?
Long-time
farm managers Robert and Bob
care
for our prized herd.
Do Fearrington Belties ever make special local appearances?
Absolutely; you will see our Belties strut their stuff every
October during the NC State Fair in Raleigh.
Where did Belties originate?
Early records show Belted Galloways developed in the 16th
century in the former Galloway district of
Scotland, a rugged, hilly seacoast region where hardiness is
necessary for survival.
When were the Belties introduced to Fearrington?
A herd of six Belted Galloways were introduced in 1982. The pastures are now home to a herd of over thirty.
Are their stripes painted on?
Yes, we are asked this question frequently, and no, they are
born with their belts. Our farm managers have worked hard
over the years to perfect the straight lines of the belts through selective
breeding, resulting in many championship titles.
Our black and white
belted cows are Belted Galloways,
a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle that was introduced to the
United States back in the 1950s. In the early 1980s,
RB Fitch
brought a herd of six Belties from Virginia to Fearrington. There are now over thirty Belties
grazing our rolling pastures. The Belties'
sole purpose is to greet village guests and coax a smile or two.
Fearrington farm managers Robert Flynn and Bob Strowd
regularly show our cattle at state and national venues. These
include the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, and the North
American International Livestock Exposition held in Louisville, KY,
the largest all-breed, purebred livestock competition in the
country. Read a recent blog posting about our unusual
dun calves.
Beltie Awards
North American International Livestock Exhibition
(NAILE)
2010 -Grand Champion Bull:
Fearrington Alfalfa
-
Reserve National Champion, Cow/Calf Pair:
Driftwood Tara with Fearrington Centerfold
-
Class Winner: Fearrington Centerfold
2009 - Grand Champion Bull: Fearrington Alfalfa
-
Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair:
Fearrington Zena and Fearrington
Butterfly
-
First Place Ribbons:
Fearrington Zena, Fearrington Butterfly,
Fearrington Alfalfa, Driftwood Tara
-
Second Place Ribbons:
Fearrington Zeta, Fearrington Baby Girl
2008 - Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair:
Fearrington Diamond B. Jamie &
Fearrington Alfalfa
- Division First Place Cow/Calf Pair:
Fearrington Diamond B. Jamie &
Fearrington Alfalfa
2007 -First Place Ribbon: Fearrington
Diamond B.
Jamie
- Second Place Ribbon: Fearrington Weekend
Girl
- First Place in Senior Bull Calf Class:
Fearrington Xavier
- Reserve Champion in Division:
Fearrington Xavier
- Third Place: Fearrington Vortex
