Living north of the 49th parallel, we can have some pretty harsh winters. The coldest winters I remember have dipped to the minus--50 F*.
Now most winters do not get that cold, but that kind of cold can be pretty harsh on critters, and how warm cattle stay, is often relative to the volume of feed they eat, fat on their back, or their hair.
Having raised a few different breeds of cattle, -Angus, Simmental, Hereford, Limousin and crosses etc. I have found in general they often leave something to be desired.
Whether it is the general breed temperament (I do understand that handling often effects temperament, and individuals vary), but there is still inbred general breed temperamental tendencies. Around here the joke is that the cow that jumped over the moon ( and your fence) has to be a Simmental or Limo. The cow that went through your fence had to be Angus. And having repaired enough "angus broken fences" ( not only our own cattle,) I tend to agree.
Talking with different Saler breeders, even the ones who like the breed, they will tell you Salers often are quite wild, and seeing Saler cattle "perform", and their handlers covered with severe "gravel rash", I will say the breed tendency is to be on the wild side.
I have had enough experience over the years with different cattle that, only too often, the stereotypes on the different temperaments are often true.
Or there is the issue of breed susceptibility to disease, lack of vigor , or some other issue like low cutability, etc. why I am not interested in raising "traditional" breeds.
The best one I have had is a couple Piedmontese , but they are soooo extremely rare in these parts,( and pretty pricey ) it is hard to find any number of them, to put together a small herd. I have no intention on parting with my Piedmontese, but am looking at the possibility of adding something along the line of Galloway to my field, that is why I am asking people who raise Galloway what they are like.
