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Belties are making a moo-ve
May 19, 2009
MOTORISTS driving through a Teesdale village will have noticed that some new residents have arrived at a country estate.
A herd of belted Galloways, often called belties, have been moved from a windswept hill farm at Gilmonby, near Bowes, to the historic parklands of Lartington Hall.
The estate is owned by John Mayhew, who also owns Rules of Covent Garden –London’s oldest restaurant.
The restaurant takes pride in sourcing produce from the estate and Galloway beef, which is reared on a natural diet of grass and hay, has become a favourite with customers.
Paul Coppen, who farms at Gilmonby, said: “It’s quite a journey for these belties, which have started life at the farm, White Close Hill, which borders the wild and bleak expanse of Scargill Moor. Then it’s on to the more tranquil parkland at Lartington, a classic English agrarian estate, before finally going to Rules, in the heart of London.”
The grade-II listed parkland at Lartington was probably laid out in 1770. It retains the features of an earlier open field system of farming, with ridge and furrow markings, probably dating from the mediaeval period.
For the past ten years, the park has been managed under a Ministry Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Mr Coppen said: “This low-intensity regime of pastoral farming equates well with the management system in operation at White Close Hill, where the belties are reared exclusively on a natural diet.
“Belties respond well to these low-intensity production methods and are generally hardier, longer-lived (one cow is 19 years old) and more efficient at converting low-quality forage into top quality meat than their modern counterparts.”
Mr Coppen said belted Galloways, which are thought to come from Celtic stock, mature slower than other cattle.
He said: “They normally mature in their third year of grazing to produce marbled meat imparting excellent cooking and eating qualities, including flavour, texture, succulence and tenderness.
“No doubt those qualities will be enhanced after the belties have enjoyed a stress-free summer grazing at leisure and sheltering under the canopies of the ancient oaks at Lartington.”