Highland cattle

[Woolless]

Looking to expand our embryo suckler herd in the next few months. My son is very keen on Highlanders, which weren't part of my plan. While we are hardly the land of milk and honey (700ft, exposed coastal, thin soils), I think they might get too fat and have issues even though they would be outwintered with calf at foot, while taking the place of a more productive cow. And there's a query in my mind about temperament, especially round calving.

While it would only be one or two to give my son an interest, I don't want hassle or poor calves! Anyone on here had experience of running Highlanders on something better than rock and heather? @JP1?

 

[JP1]

Looking to expand our embryo suckler herd in the next few months. My son is very keen on Highlanders, which weren't part of my plan. While we are hardly the land of milk and honey (700ft, exposed coastal, thin soils), I think they might get too fat and have issues even though they would be outwintered with calf at foot, while taking the place of a more productive cow. And there's a query in my mind about temperament, especially round calving.

While it would only be one or two to give my son an interest, I don't want hassle or poor calves! Anyone on here had experience of running Highlanders on something better than rock and heather? @JP1?

My frined Izzy Rainey has them down here

Try speaking with her on her thoughts? She puts some to a Lincoln Red bull

Bates Moor Farm Beef

Bates Moor Farm Beef. 328 likes · 61 talking about this. We are a small family farm based in Foulsham, Norfolk, breeding Highland cattle since 1989.

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Or you could come over to the dark side and try some Belted Galloways or Riggit Galloways ........

 

[M-J-G]

Watch out for big teats, a lot of Highlands have them, mostly caused by hobby breeders who don't mind sucking calves.

Why have them with a calf over winter?

If you have grass fields a true hill cow (who's designed to eat white grass and heather) is taking up the space that a more productive cow would use better.
Growth rates in Highlands are pretty appalling.

 

[Agrivator]

Looking to expand our embryo suckler herd in the next few months. My son is very keen on Highlanders, which weren't part of my plan. While we are hardly the land of milk and honey (700ft, exposed coastal, thin soils), I think they might get too fat and have issues even though they would be outwintered with calf at foot, while taking the place of a more productive cow. And there's a query in my mind about temperament, especially round calving.

While it would only be one or two to give my son an interest, I don't want hassle or poor calves! Anyone on here had experience of running Highlanders on something better than rock and heather? @JP1?

Tombstone ring feeders are about twice the price of normal ring feeders. And Highland friendly crushes need a mortgage to buy them.
And where in East Berwickshire can you take elocution lessons to converse with fellow Highland breeders at the annual sales? And even a half-decent pair of Wellingtons will set you back about £350.

Just use a bit of common sense and get a few Sim/Luings.

 

[Cowslip]

South devons are very hardy, many are out wintered milk well and produce a decent calf, can cross with anything and are very quiet and easy to handle. Mine are currently doing really well on dessert conditions.

 

[Crex]

Don't do it man!

 

[Agrivator]

South devons are very hardy, many are out wintered milk well and produce a decent calf, can cross with anything and are very quiet and easy to handle. Mine are currently doing really well on dessert conditions.

Or one or two Lincoln Reds put to an Angus bull.

 

[Cowslip]

1st calved south Devon heifer with her April born saler x heifer calf only grass fed no creep

 

[Woolless]

Watch out for big teats, a lot of Highlands have them, mostly caused by hobby breeders who don't mind sucking calves.

Why have them with a calf over winter?

If you have grass fields a true hill cow (who's designed to eat white grass and heather) is taking up the space that a more productive cow would use better.
Growth rates in Highlands are pretty appalling.

Interesting point about the teats. Sod that! I share your doubts about their suitability on my ground.

 

[Woolless]

1st calved south Devon heifer with her April born saler x heifer calf only grass fed no creep

Cracking outfit but South Devons are huge, aren't they?

 

[JP1]

Looking to expand our embryo suckler herd in the next few months. My son is very keen on Highlanders, which weren't part of my plan. While we are hardly the land of milk and honey (700ft, exposed coastal, thin soils), I think they might get too fat and have issues even though they would be outwintered with calf at foot, while taking the place of a more productive cow. And there's a query in my mind about temperament, especially round calving.

While it would only be one or two to give my son an interest, I don't want hassle or poor calves! Anyone on here had experience of running Highlanders on something better than rock and heather? @JP1?

What are you looking for? How old is your Son (ie school age or older?)

 

[Woolless]

Tombstone ring feeders are about twice the price of normal ring feeders. And Highland friendly crushes need a mortgage to buy them.
And where in East Berwickshire can you take elocution lessons to converse with fellow Highland breeders at the annual sales? And even a half-decent pair of Wellingtons will set you back about £350.

Just use a bit of common sense and get a few Sim/Luings.

Having spent two summers in Argyll in my youth, I would be confident in my ability to make myself understood at Oban!

 

[Woolless]

What are you looking for? How old is your Son (ie school age or older?)

He's 11. He just likes highlanders. He was trying to tame my neighbour's three elderly and rather feral highlanders for a while. Today we were at Paxton House where they have them and he was banging on about them.

 

[Cowslip]

Cracking outfit but South Devons are huge, aren't they?

my cows average around 750kg so they are not the biggest south devons, eat a lot less than are crossbred cows( mixture of breeds) as hold there condition really well have topped the market with cull cows and stores Every time we sell them. Cows are also long lived most are culled after 12 years but have some that are nearer 15. Cull cows averaging £1200 after having 10 plus calves( many rear twins). Best are kept pedigree, heifers going to saler to calve at 2yrs old, anything not upto scratch goes to limousin. People always say to me they can't believe the calves are not creep fed.

 

[JP1]

He's 11. He just likes highlanders. He was trying to tame my neighbour's three elderly and rather feral highlanders for a while. Today we were at Paxton House where they have them and he was banging on about them.

Thanks. I'm only asking as the Belted Galloway Cattle Society Scottish Group is very keen on helping with it's Young Handler group and workshops

Why not run a couple of Belties or Riggit Galloways and with a commercial bull over them?

Young Handlers - Belted Galloway

The Belted Galloway Society is keen to encourage youngsters with an interest in Belted Galloways...

www.beltedgalloways.co.uk

 

[Woolless]

Thanks. I'm only asking as the Belted Galloway Cattle Society Scottish Group is very keen on helping with it's Young Handler group and workshops

Why not run a couple of Belties or Riggit Galloways and with a commercial bull over them?

Young Handlers - Belted Galloway

The Belted Galloway Society is keen to encourage youngsters with an interest in Belted Galloways...

www.beltedgalloways.co.uk

Good for them, great initiative. Showing is just not my thing, though.

He's never expressed an opinion on Galloways. Any hairy cattle here would certainly still be going to (probably) a Hereford bull, like everything else. There was a Hereford bull in with the highland cows at Paxton today, funnily enough.

 

[JP1]

Good for them, great initiative. Showing is just not my thing, though.

He's never expressed an opinion on Galloways. Any hairy cattle here would certainly still be going to (probably) a Hereford bull, like everything else. There was a Hereford bull in with the highland cows at Paxton today, funnily enough.

Not just showing, they do grading / handling workshops, group visits with like minded kids etc etc

 

[Woolless]

Just noticed, there's a dispersal sale at Stirling on September 12

 

[unlacedgecko]

Just noticed, there's a dispersal sale at Stirling on September 12

There’s often small herds for sale on SellMyLivestock. Can be very cheap, or appear so to my untrained eye.

 

[JP1]