Up to a few years ago I bred pedigree AA, prior to that, ped Lims & Blues also, never in my life did I envisage asking about keeping highlands but times change, and so have I.
Anyway, small farm, there will come a point in the not too distant future where no-one will be home during the day (anticipating this was partly the reason behind getting out of cattle a few years ago) we both work full time off site.
I didn't anticipate keeping cattle again but youngest daughter is very keen as she missed out on the years we kept and showed cattle and all the rigmarole that goes with that.
Decided to buy a couple of baby fatstockers for her to show but she really fancies breeding cattle, we've a rough patch of ground that could be home to a couple of highland heifers & a young bull, I cant see the point in getting back on the Lim or any other continental treadmill as I cant be arsed with the whole thing and don't fancy the stress of pulling big calves etc.
Outside Scotland, is there a market for small scale produced Highlands? and if so in what form, also, what other breed would fill the same remit?
Need to be out all year round, could be able to put up a field shelter type of arrangement (sheds that used to hold cattle now used for other stuff) calving ease is the biggest requirement along with docile temperament, they wont be far from the house and would be checked daily but don't want to go back to the big arsed pedigree world if I'm honest, no disrespect, it's just not for me anymore.
Anyway, small farm, there will come a point in the not too distant future where no-one will be home during the day (anticipating this was partly the reason behind getting out of cattle a few years ago) we both work full time off site.
I didn't anticipate keeping cattle again but youngest daughter is very keen as she missed out on the years we kept and showed cattle and all the rigmarole that goes with that.
Decided to buy a couple of baby fatstockers for her to show but she really fancies breeding cattle, we've a rough patch of ground that could be home to a couple of highland heifers & a young bull, I cant see the point in getting back on the Lim or any other continental treadmill as I cant be arsed with the whole thing and don't fancy the stress of pulling big calves etc.
Outside Scotland, is there a market for small scale produced Highlands? and if so in what form, also, what other breed would fill the same remit?
Need to be out all year round, could be able to put up a field shelter type of arrangement (sheds that used to hold cattle now used for other stuff) calving ease is the biggest requirement along with docile temperament, they wont be far from the house and would be checked daily but don't want to go back to the big arsed pedigree world if I'm honest, no disrespect, it's just not for me anymore.
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