36 | MEAT & WOOL » The Ranch In love with the Belted Galloway breed Year 12 St Andrews College student Marshall Stokes leads one of his Ranch Galloways. Sue Russell It seems that Marshall Stokes, from ‘The Ranch’, Oxford, 54 km north-west of Christchurch, has always been around cattle. “My Dad Andrew, was involved in showing his Angus stud cattle before I was born. I was attending shows by the time I was 6 months old and by 3 years of age I was finally allowed to lead a Dexter calf for another exhibitor. Today, the Year 12 St Andrews College student, has continued making a mark for himself at competitions; showing his own Belted Galloway stud animals, from his registered herd Ranch Galloways. “I fell in love with the breed. Their kind nature and how they look. Today I have a herd of about 15 breeding cows. Each year I will move out the old cows,” Marshall explains. The enterprising young man has already established a client base of dairy farmers he leases his bulls to. He says dairy farmers like them because they produce lighter birthweight progeny with a shorter gestation period. “My breeding cows are extremely protective of their calves. I wait until the calf is six-months old before weaning to give them a really good start,” says Marshall. The Ranch farm has been in the Stokes family about 30 years and is a substantial property of 750ha, home to 2,500 commercial ewes (mainly romney/texel), 50 stud Angus cows and 800-odd velveting stags. Dairy cows also come on to the property to winter-graze. Andrew says without the wise investment and hard work of his father and uncle in buying property the family wouldn’t be in the position it is now. Track back 25 years or so ago, most of the district was sheep farming. Today dairying is the main activity. A passion for working with pure-bred animals seems to run in the blood, with Marshall’s Mum, Udette, operating a Texel stud. Asked about preparing his stock for show-day Marshall says there’s a lot of work involved, long before the day arrives. “All the breaking in, haltering and training of the cows and even once at the show there is still all the washing and preparing. Getting just one animal ready takes 1 – 2 hours on the day.” And Marshall is fussy about which animals he selects for showing; looking at traits such as how they walk. “It has to accurately reflect the true traits of the breed. If it doesn’t I don’t select it for showing.” COVID has impacted on the show-season and for the first time last year the big Christchurch A & P Show didn’t take place. Instead a virtual show was organised this season, providing competitors with an opportunity to still present their prized cattle, as Marshall explains. “You sent in three photos, front, side and back and gave a 30 second presentation about the animal you were showing. It takes about a month before we know the results. The next show will be ‘virtual’ in April.” When asked early February, if he had his selection for showing confirmed, Marshall says he has pretty well made the decision. “I’m looking for how it walks. Does it’s back foot go where its front foot goes? Has it got a nice udder which will sustain a calf? Is it structurally sound?” The breed has many endearing characteristics too! Very inquisitive and intelligent. “If I walk into a pen, it will know exactly how I am feeling. When I am showing animals they feel safe when they arrive at an unknown space.” The passion for farming also extends to younger brother Daniel. Marshall intends to return to the farm when his schooling is completed. He’s especially proud of how his Galloway’s stand-up against Dad’s Angus stock. “We scan all our bulls for eye muscle and marbling and they really perform well.” Aspirations are to grow his Ranch Galloway stud to about 50 breeding cows in time. “I wait until the calf is sixmonths old before weaning to give them a really good start.” Pete Nichol 340 Ashley Gorge Road Glentui R.D.I Oxford 7495 - Mobile 021 344 137 Agricultural & Irrigation Contractor Excavation - Bulldozing Transporter - Drainage Farm Roading - Root Raking Mainline - Stockwater Proudly associated with The Ranch “I’m really looking forward in time to see the quality of the genetics within the herd and what they are capable of producing.”
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