Suzanne's answers to your frequently asked questions. If you still have questions after reading this information, please send them to
Question 1: How much do registered purebred small White Galloways cost?
Answer 1: Being smaller, miniature Galloway cattle are more expensive than standard-sized cattle in most instances. Gold Creek purebred cattle are all registered as Miniature Galloways. White Galloways are rare, usually difficult to find for sale, and therefore, can be costly to purchase. Different breeders pride themselves on different things. Therefore, each breeder breeds their cattle for different purposes and charges accordingly for their cattle.
We live in Australia, so drought, bushfires, and floods all have an impact on the capacity of breeders to meet demand. All of these things affect the price of cattle at any point in time. Yes, it is basic supply and demand, even for hobby farmers.
To put it bluntly, you will find that the smaller the cattle, the bigger the price tag. You will also find that the easier the cattle are to handle, the more expensive they become. It is the same with miniature horses, goats, and miniature pigs. However, miniature cattle are not tiny like miniature horses, goats or pigs. They are still large, solid animals weighing from 300 - 500 kgs.
Gold Creek cattle prices are not governed solely by size. The cattle must be sweet-natured, hardy, and ready to reproduce. The steers won't be reproducing, of course! When Suzanne says quiet, she means happy to be handled in the paddock by complete strangers.
Pet steers cost less than breeding cattle. Steers are usually sold in pairs* as paddock pets. Suzanne does not sell them individually unless they are joining at least one other steer, heifer, cow or bull. Usually, they cost over $3750 each, making $7,500 a pair the starting point for two weaned, quiet, friendly, solid colour steers. Even with steers, it is a case of the smaller, the whiter, the quieter, the more expensive they are to purchase.
As a general rule, white steers are more popular, cost a little more - $4200+ each. There are always exceptions to every rule. Small, white and quiet steers are more expensive than black, average-size, quiet steers. Suzanne will not sell steers as pets if they are not quiet (docile and easily handled).
Heifers. The price of Gold Creek's registered purebred White Galloway heifers, which are very quiet and small, starts at around the $7500 mark. That is a starting point of $7500 for a purebred black or dun solid coloured female (whites and reds are usually more). This is for one only, a young (8-month-old) unjoined heifer, not a cow. It is for a solid-coloured female, not a white female with coloured points.
Just how small and just how quiet and easily handled the individual has become will also be a factor in the price. These things don't happen by accident. Producing such cattle consistently takes years of good breeding and lots of handling.
Cows: Cows cost more than heifers. Most registered female miniature cattle cost more. The price you can expect to pay starts around $7500 - $8000 for a quiet, registered cow. Expect to pay this, especially if she is white, young, proven or in calf. Expect to pay around the same amount if she is a little older and/or in calf. The price depends on breeding, colour (white is currently the most prized), conformation, age, and temperament. Extremely quiet is preferable for most first-time or inexperienced buyers. All Gold Creek purebred and full-blood females are registered. All Gold Creek cattle are extremely quiet.
Older Cows: The real value of older cows can never be underestimated. Whether they be registered or unregistered, having mature, proven females in your herd is invaluable. Just putting a couple of retired older cows on your five acres or in your orchard will allow you to reap the benefits with a fraction of the effort. If you don't specifically need young cattle, ask breeders about their older cows. Gold Creek's older females are worth their weight in gold, even when they retire from breeding!
Proven Cows: Expect to pay more for proven cows, cows in calf and cows with calves at foot (think of $7500 as a starting point). Expect to pay more again for cows in calf and with a calf at foot). Proven cows are worth their weight in gold - no sleepless nights worrying about them calving for the first time! Also, well-trained, docile cattle usually cost more than untrained, wary little grass eaters. Again, paying that little bit more is worth every dollar when you factor in the benefits of being able to enjoy quiet, well-bred, easy-to-handle cattle from day one.
Unregistered cattle: Gold Creek also breeds smaller, unregistered white Galloway composite cattle. Many of these little heifers, bulls and cows are just as amazing as Gold Creek's registered herd members. There is a small price difference between our registered and unregistered cattle, the unregistered cattle costing slightly less. They are unregistered, but because they are smaller than the registered cattle, and just as well-bred and extremely quiet, the price difference isn't huge (maybe $500 - $1500 less than the equivalent registered cow).
If you want to purchase Gold Creek's extra small and extremely docile Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) cattle, Suzanne will negotiate an individual price with the buyer, according to their circumstances. At Gold Creek, we understand that financial strain and special needs often come hand in hand. These AAT cattle are even quieter than the show cattle most other Galloway breeders take into the show ring. They have to be this quiet to do the work they do. It has taken many years of careful breeding and training to get these cattle ready for AAT work.
Bulls: The smaller traditional Galloway bulls are a whole other ball game, if you will pardon the pun. Again, it depends on age, size, colour, temperament, and conformation. Expect to pay whatever the asking price the breeder has set. You can always negotiate like crazy and hope for the best. If Gold Creek has kept a bull calf for breeding, you can count on him being something very special (and probably very expensive).
*Gold Creek always sells cattle in pairs because cattle are herd animals. Even your pet cattle will be on their own in the paddocks for more hours of the day than you will be with them - they need a friend. Prey animals feel vulnerable and exposed in a paddock on their own (apart from being lonely).
Price is always dependent on the age, breed quality, colour, breeding performance (proven breeders are more expensive) and show performance of cattle being sold, so there will always be variations.
The bottom line on prices: Unless you are talking to a breeder about a particular animal, at a particular time, in a particular set of circumstances, it is hard to say what price may be agreed upon by the parties involved. It is a matter between you and the breeder. And as with most things in life, you get what you pay for, except in the occasional instance. Once in a while you are very lucky (getting really good cattle for very little money) or extremely unlucky (paying too much for poor quality cattle).
TRANSPORT: Please factor in the cost of transporting cattle - unless you have a horse float. We can arrange transport for you (approx $3.20 or more a kilometre one way) with a trusted and well-qualified transporter (using a horse float). The hire of a cattle truck for larger numbers will be different but can work out less expensive per animal depending on the number of cattle being moved.
Question 2: Can you explain the difference between full-blooded, purebred, and crossbred (graded) Galloway cattle?
Answer 2: Full blood Galloway cattle have only registered full-blood Galloway cattle in their breeding history and absolutely nothing else. If the paperwork is not all in order (five generations of registration papers), then cattle cannot be registered as full blood.
Purebred cattle have parentage from a breed other than Galloway, at least five generations back in their breeding history (on at least one side of the breeding, either sire or dam). Both full blood and purebred cattle that are registered can be taken into the show ring and compete on equal footing.
Graded Galloway cattle have a breed other than Galloway less than five generations back in their breeding history (on at least one side of the breeding - sire or dam). Graded cattle are 'listed' as opposed to being registered. They can't be taken into the show ring.
Choosing whether or not to crossbreed or grade up with Galloway cattle is a personal choice for all individual breeders. Grading up and cross-breeding with Galloway cattle is legitimate.
Question 3: How much land do I need to own to have miniature cattle?
Answer 3: Three hectares or seven acres of good pasture should be the minimum required for two small steers (in NSW).
In some instances (in the northern parts of Australia, for example), you can run two steers on a couple of hectares (approx. 5 acres), but it may require a lot of hand feeding and cleaning up. Cattle need to be kept in at least pairs. Cows and calves and cows in calf eat more pasture than steers. The rainfall, soil quality, and type of pasture in the paddock will also determine the stocking rate. Keep in mind that cattle defecate, urinate, and trample as much feed as they eat. Then the pasture needs to be rested until Mother Nature works her magic. So, it is not just about how much they eat.
It is better to work in a situation where you have too much food rather than not enough. Our feeling it is preferable to have to buy more cattle later on than it is to either sell the stock (heartbreaking) or buy feed (expensive).
Gold Creek only sells steers in pairs because they are herd animals and prey animals. They need a paddock pal, or they feel vulnerable and lonely.
Question 4: Do you lease bulls or sell semen straws?
Answer 4: No. Gold Creek does store straws sourced from many good-quality bulls for their own use. If you have purchased females from us, Suzanne will always help you with purchasing our straws or leasing an unrelated bull. Leasing our bulls or selling our semen straws is not something Suzanne is comfortable doing otherwise.
Question 5: Are your cattle suitable for people who have no experience with cattle - we've never owned livestock before?
Answer 5: Yes, Gold Creek's small Galloway cattle are bred and trained to make it easy for first-time livestock owners to enjoy owning them. If you are willing to learn, not afraid to ask questions, and you will ask for help if the need arises, then you should be quite capable of looking after livestock.
When you purchase Gold Creek cattle, Suzanne is only ever an email or a phone call away. Suzanne wants to ensure that the cattle are well looked after and that you are thoroughly enjoying having them on your property.
Question 6: How big are 'miniature' Galloway cattle?
Answer 6: Gold Creek's smaller traditional Galloways are often described as middle-sized cattle on short legs. To be eligible to be shown and registered as a miniature Galloway (as opposed to a standard Galloway), a female can mature at no more than 120 cm and a male at a maximum of 125 cm (usually at 4 - to 5 years old). The measurement is taken at the hip. Please note, miniature cattle are not tiny like the miniature goats and horses you see.
At 12 months old, to qualify to be registered as miniature, Galloway females must not be over 107.5 cm and 112.5 cm for males. The registration requirements can differ depending on where you register them.
All Gold Creek purebred cattle qualify to be registered as miniature Galloways. Most Gold Creek cattle come in under these height requirements. The bulls bred by Gold Creek mature at between 110 - 115 cm at the hip. Full grown cows range between 105cm and 118cm.
Full-grown, full blood cows tend to weigh between 350 - 650kg.
Question 7: Which parts of Australia are the best suited to Galloway cattle?
Answer 7: Galloway cattle originated in the Scottish Highlands in Scotland. Any environment similar to the Scottish Highlands is ideal for Galloway cattle (Braidwood in southern NSW comes close). Galloways have a double coat to keep them warm in the coldest of winters. The shaggy, long outer coat is shed when the weather warms up. However, Galloway cattle are very adaptable.
Galloways can be found living in most parts of Australia, except for the Northern Territory. The Gold Creek herd started out in southeast Queensland. Then the whole herd was carefully transported to southern New South Wales. Our Galloways' long and shaggy coats are gorgeous during the winter months in Braidwood. As long as Galloway cattle have access to shade and plenty of cool, clean water, they do well in areas with short, hot summers.
Contact Suzanne: