Highland Stocker calves

SGFarm · #1 10/25/10, 09:33 PM

A friend of a friend has offered some Highland stocker calves for what seems like a decent price.

I have raised a pair of hereford / holstein crosses and I have a pair of holstein bottle bulls right now.

What do I need to know about Highlands? Those horns look like they would do a number of fencing, trailers, me, etc.? How big would a spring calf be now, how big when they finish out and are ready for the freezer?

I have extra brewers grain available, would they be okay having a heavy grain diet?

Thanks for the information.

Mike

randiliana · #2 10/26/10, 08:55 AM

Well, I don't know a lot about highlands. But, a spring calf now is probably in the 400-500 lb range. The horns could easily be removed at this age, the biggest reason to remove them is your safety, and because they will use them to dominate cattle that don't have horns. As far as fencing and such, the shouldn't be a big problem. If you do decide to dehorn them the sooner you do it the better for the calf. I would expect that their finished size would be around 900-1000 lbs. A high grain diet should be fine, if that is how you want them finished, just make sure you start them out slowly at about 5 lbs or less and slowly work them up to the amount you want to be feeding them.

Kbell · #3 10/27/10, 06:48 PM

We have Highlands and they mature alot slower than other beef cattle.

haypoint · #4 10/27/10, 09:53 PM

Around here, no one wants them. Novelty I guess. Promoted as good mothers, but that seems to translate to mean and agressive. I talked to a cattle hauler last week, he had 5 mixed in with a bunch of worn out dairy cows going to a place that processes low quality cattle. He said they were the meanest he's seen. Knew how to use their horns, too.

Maybe those from the friend of a friend are quiet, friendly and fast growing. Maybe not.

dodgewc · #5 10/27/10, 10:14 PM

slow growing, but top quality beef. Take at least 2 years to finish out.
will manage to eat fine on any kind of forage, and tolerant of all weather.
1000 to 1200 pounds, but if you can direct market, you will get a premium price. Not hard on the pastures and fencing due to their size. Do have commanding horns, but wouldn't have one without them, especially if coyotes about.

lonelyfarmgirl · #6 10/28/10, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randiliana

Well, I don't know a lot about highlands. But, a spring calf now is probably in the 400-500 lb range. The horns could easily be removed at this age, the biggest reason to remove them is your safety, and because they will use them to dominate cattle that don't have horns. As far as fencing and such, the shouldn't be a big problem. If you do decide to dehorn them the sooner you do it the better for the calf. I would expect that their finished size would be around 900-1000 lbs. A high grain diet should be fine, if that is how you want them finished, just make sure you start them out slowly at about 5 lbs or less and slowly work them up to the amount you want to be feeding them.

I have to absolutely disagree with all this; it's obvious you don't know alot about highlands, no offense.
We have highlands. They are NOT a problem with their horns. They are totally submissive to our herefords, as a matter of fact. A year ago, we brought in a herd of 23 highlands to add to our mixed breeds herd. Those highlands were the biggest sissies I ever seen. They still are at the bottom of the herd totem pole.
They are no more destructive to physical objects than our polled animals. All cows scratch and rub, regardless of horns.

A 2010 spring calf would not be 500 pounds. Our highlands are of the bigger genetics. Our year old heifers are 500-600 pounds. Our spring calves are 250 at best. We have a 2 1/2 year old steer and he is probably 800 pounds.

They take longer to finish, but the flavor is top notch. You can feed them grain, but the result will be hairy fat pigs. If that is how you like your beef, go for it.
They tend to be calm but aloof, in general. Our hereford/angus cows are way more trouble.
The biggest highland problems we have had, are babies tend to not respect the electric, because their hair protects them against shock, and there have been a few occasions when one got its horns stuck in the feeder because they were just the right size. When they grew another 1/4 inch, it was no longer an issue.

anvoj · #7 10/28/10, 10:29 PM

different herds wil have different temperments of course. Some people run essentially feral highland herds and some people dress them up in bonnets and ribbons. Ours are mellow, but we do dehorn after an accident with a colt. It's not too late for nippers on a spring calf. I've never grained our highlands, but have been told by other breeders that it's a waste of $$ because they carry surplus fat on the outside of the carcass like a deer. Dunno, just what I've heard.

SGFarm · #8 10/29/10, 07:21 AM

Thanks for all of the information. It is good.

Currently I am composting about 1000 lbs of brewers grain a week so I am looking for some extra animals to feed it to so I don't waste the grain. Not that compost is a waste because it will do good for the veggie garden in the spring.

What would a fair price for spring calves? and what a good price be for spring calves?

Thanks

Mike

lonelyfarmgirl · #9 10/29/10, 10:23 AM

the average is a dollar a pound live weight.

francismilker · #10 10/29/10, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

the average is a dollar a pound live weight.

The folks in my area that are selling them need to haul to your area. I seen about a dozen head come through the ring yesterday and the best of them brought .41 cents per pound. It was an 800lb steer. (less than $350 for a critter that was almost ready for slaughter, I should have jumped on it.)

They are still written off as a serious niche market here.

Allen W · #11 10/29/10, 01:09 PM

If you have a market for them go for it, if you plan on selling them through the sale barn I would forget it.

lonelyfarmgirl · #12 10/29/10, 07:00 PM

ok, let me rephrase and clarify. On the private market, as in individual to individual, the price of a beef animal is a dollar a pound live weight. the price of a highland or other horned beast through the auction ring? near nothing. The price of a prime slaughter animal through the auction ring? 70 to 80 cents a pound, live.

anvoj · #13 10/29/10, 08:13 PM

We bought 2 spring bulls for $200 each. Paid 1/2 when we made the deal in July but left them on their mothers till last week. I thought that was a good deal.

lonelyfarmgirl · #14 10/30/10, 05:55 AM

that was a good deal. we just paid 200$ for a registered longhorn bull, I think born early august, but that was part of a deal with some grown ones we bought. he probably would have been more by himself.
we did get a 2 year old holstein cow for 500$. but we shipped her straight to the butcher. she had standing issues and did n't work on the milk line. a shame, she was very tame.

JAS · #15 10/30/10, 04:09 PM

We bought two cows a while ago because the "bigger" cows were picking on them and they were eating his trees. They are more of a browser than most breeds, thus live off poorer grazing land. I really like them because they seem to handle the cold weather quite well.

Those two were not tame and were a bit jumpy, but their calves we tried to tame a bit for moving. Never felt threatened by them, but our vet was leery of them as he had a Highland cow chase him over a fence one time when he was checking her calf.

The steer we just butchered was going on three years. He was picking the electric fence up with his horns and going under (he is the only one I had trouble with). I think the hanging weight was around 750 and I brought home almost 400 pounds of meat from the locker. These are grass fed with corn used as a treat only. We just raise them for our own use, though have had others interested in buying some of the meat. Probably not the best for making a living off of as they are slower growing and smaller, but the meat is very high quality.

haypoint · #16 11/01/10, 10:02 AM

Highlands are worth about 40 cents a pound. Expert sales pitch, salesmanship, widespread promotion and or an unsuspecting or unimformed buyer, add 30 to 60 cents a pound. Good to be on the selling side of those buck a pound cattle. PITA to be on the other side. IMHO.

If you own them, like the novelty, are set up to contain or corral them safely and like lean beef and aren't in a hurry or don't need to keep track of profitability, put one in the freezer once in a while and enjoy.

If you have the personality and contacts to market them to people that like something a bit "different", go for it, test your sales abilities. Willingness to take a fainting goat, pot bellied pig or Llama in partial trade would be a plus.

francismilker · #17 11/01/10, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

Highlands are worth about 40 cents a pound. Expert sales pitch, salesmanship, widespread promotion and or an unsuspecting or unimformed buyer, add 30 to 60 cents a pound. Good to be on the selling side of those buck a pound cattle. PITA to be on the other side. IMHO.

If you own them, like the novelty, are set up to contain or corral them safely and like lean beef and aren't in a hurry or don't need to keep track of profitability, put one in the freezer once in a while and enjoy.

If you have the personality and contacts to market them to people that like something a bit "different", go for it, test your sales abilities. Willingness to take a fainting goat, pot bellied pig or Llama in partial trade would be a plus.

I love it haypoint!!!! Well said.

Patt · #18 11/01/10, 08:16 PM

As a former highland breeder I have to take exception to Haypoints posts. You can make as good or better money off their beef because they fill out very well strictly on grass and there is a very good, steady, high end market for grassfed beef.

Good post from Lonelyfarmgirl.

If you are looking to fill out a couple of beef calves cheaply and you have plenty of grass and forage then these are the cows for you. Besides a good mineral and bit of grain to keep them tame they won't cost you much of anything. If you are looking to feed out something quickly on cheap grain I would go for something different.