There’s nothing like sitting back and talking to your cows.
– Russell Crowe
The Brody’s foray into the cattle business in the mid seventies began by a desire to have some animals for the grandchildren to see when they came to visit. Angus cattle was the breed of choice and one of their earliest purchases was a young heifer – renamed Manhattan Gal for the Brody’s Manhattan connection and the heifer’s birthplace of Manhattan, Kansas.
Manhattan Gal went on to win the Angus triple crown by being named Grand Champion Heifer at the All-American Angus Breeder’s Futurity, the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO.
While Manhattan Gal was in the midst of her winning streak, they purchased an interest in a young bull born July 4, 1976 who was aptly named Patriot. Although Patriot only won two of the three shows comprising the triple crown, the Brody’s were thrown headlong into the purebred Angus business.
Gallagher’s Angus held a pre-eminent position in the Angus business for many years until a decision was made to disperse the herd in 1987.
Since that time, Angus cattle have continued to grace the pastures of Gallagher’s Stud on a much smaller scale, currently numbering around 25 cows with calves, 25 yearlings and 20 two-year-olds. The cattle have dedicated pastures but are also rotated through the horse pastures to help control equine internal parasites. The two-year-olds, “finished” on just hay and grass, are marketed at around 30 months of age with the beef going to restaurants, supermarkets and deli’s in Brooklyn.