About Rubia Gallega
A Captivating Breed
Originating in Galicia, a province in Spain, the Rubia Gallega cattle are best known for their tenderness and great beef flavor. This breed has won gold, silver, and bronze medals while competing against the best breeds of beef in the World Steak Competition. The breed is a naturally large breed with cows averaging 1500 pounds and bulls averaging 2000-2500 pounds for servicing cows but can reach up to 4,000 pounds. Rubia Gallega, originally a dual purpose breed like many old world breeds, for work and milk production, but is primarily a beef breed now, although some are still used for milk production to make tetilla cheese.
For the cattleman, the breed offers great temperament, explosive growth and harvest-ready steers within a year, without compromising quality and retaining the tenderness the breed is known for. The unique and breed-specific ability to age on the hoof gives the cattlemen an opportunity to convert a cow who has become infertile later in her life into the premium luxury beef that can command thousands of dollars.
Rubia Gallega beef is often harvested at 10-12 months of age at a staggering 1,200-1,400 pounds. Even at that age, the beef gives a strong beefy flavor and is ultra tender. The longer the breed is aged on the hoof, the more desirable it becomes. In Spain and throughout its European beef exports the luxury grade Rubia Gallega is often aged on the hoof for 3-10 years, with live weights up to 4,000 pounds commanding five figure wholesale prices.
Origin Of The Breed
Rubia Gallega is a breed of cattle indigenous to Spain, more specifically from Galicia in the North West part of Spain, Rubia Gallega translates to Galician Blonde. The breed has influence from Simmental, Swiss Braunvieh, British Shorthorn and Portuguese Barrosã. A herdbook was established in 1933, the current herd size according to the registry in 2015 was just under 40,000 head. The breed was first brought to North America in 2019 by Reserve Cattle Company. https://reservecattlecompany.com/
The Benifits
Benefits Of The Breed
The benefit of Rubia Gallega can be measured by a number of things from the seed stock producer to the end market.
The breed in general is a naturally docile breed and easy to handle. They have a beautiful coat color from red/orange to blonde. The growth rates are explosive with select sire data showing 4 pounds per day. Steers can be harvested as early as 10 months and the beef is ultra tender.
The maternal aspects of Rubia Gallega are great, milk production is very good being a dual purpose breed. The cows are calving unassisted at a 95% rate with plenty of room in the pelvis for the largest calf.
Rubia Gallega do well on a variety of grasses and can also be finished on silage or grains. They will adapt well to any climate, our first Rubia Gallega were born in Montana with temperatures that reached -30 degrees.
Rubia Gallega semen is now being used in Brazil to improve growth and meat quality with the Nelore and Brahman cattle.
Rubia Gallega gives the producer the opportunity to offer a luxury brand of beef to the most exclusive restaurants in North America while at the same time being part of the newest and most exclusive breed as well.
Cited From: https://americanrubiagallega.org/about-the-breed/