One of the first questions we get asked is, "Why Belted Galloways?" My answer is always, they are fun to look at! Truth is the answer goes much deeper than that. In April 2020, at the age of thirty-nine years old I suffered a massive SCAD heart attack and went into sudden cardiac arrest. I spent several days on a ventilator and in the cardiac ICU unit. When I was released from the hospital I left with the same cardiac diet information that I assume has been given to cardiac patients for years. My cardiologist said the heart attack was a "complete fluke and could have happened to anyone." You see, it had nothing to do with clogged arteries or an unhealthy diet, in fact I ate pretty healthy and worked out 3-5 times a week prior to the heart attack. Couple that with the fact that my husband raises beef cattle, there was no way I would be able to completely avoid red meat in my diet.
I started doing some research and discovered the benefits of Belted Galloway or "Beltie" beef. For instance, on average the beef from Beltie's is 46% lower in calories, 72% lower in fat calories, 68% lower in total fat, 69% lower in saturated fat, 57% lower in cholesterol, and 19% higher in protein than Angus and other comparable beef breeds. In June of 2021 I bought my first Belted Galloway in hopes of providing a healthier beef to those affected by heart disease or those who want to eat cleaner. Our family did a blind taste test of the Beltie beef and Black Angus beef from our farm. The flavor profile of Beltie beef is said to be clean, rich, and bright along with hints of olive and clover. We thought it tasted like our Angus beef and we couldn't tell the difference between the two.
Our Belties have provided me with an outlet that I would have never taken advantage of prior to April 2020. Providing healthier beef to our family & friends is the end goal of our Belted Galloway beef herd. I hope you will try our beltie beef & love it as much as we do!
-- Misty Wilson