A couple questions about Scotch Highland Cows

[Nicholie Olie]

1. I know land can vary a lot, but in general, how much land does a Scotch Highland Cow need? I've heard of a couple people only running them on 1 -1.5 acres. (when i did a google search and found this forum).

2. In the winter, do you have a special holding padlock for them? I know cows can do damage to the ground during the winter and the spring months.

3. Is it worth it to get a Bull? I only want a small herd, of about 5 head.

4. When calculating land, should i put in the calfs into the equation? Since they mature more slowly. Conceiving > Calf > table could take up to 2-3 years.

5. When should i sell the extra calves, as in age? Do i need to get them "table ready" or can i sell them younger to people wanting to use them in their own herd?


Feel free to give me any extra information!

[SpaceCadet12364]

We live in Kentucky and 1.5 cow/calf pairs per acre. But I buy hay because I can get it cheap enough that it is not worth the hassle to cut and roll myself. On a bull if you plan on running registered Bull's get expensive you have to dna test a bull to register. I sell when somebody is willing to pay what I will take for them. I have sold the one I was going to put in my freezer before. We have had people offer more for calves that were sold just not picked up yet. I don't do it ,Temped yes, do it no. We do not sell before 6 mos. period, mom does a better job of raising the calf then we do. If you put them in a confined space they will beat the ground up. Also more pushing going on. We like ours over 24mos. before butcher and have butchered over 9 yrs old, bulls upto 5yrs. If someone close by has a bull see if you can rent or borrow him to breed yours Just be willing to keep your herd upto date on shots and worming. You get more for them if they are ready to butcher but less hassle if they are someone elses to worry about so if someone comes looking and they are old enough to wean goodbye.

[Nicholie Olie]

Thank you for the great information!!

[Royal.T.Yak]

I don't have my Highlands anymore, but as of a month ago, I had a Silver cow, so I'll try to answer these as best I can for you

Originally Posted by Nicholie Olie

1. I know land can vary a lot, but in general, how much land does a Scotch Highland Cow need? I've heard of a couple people only running them on 1 -1.5 acres. (when i did a google search and found this forum).
The stocking rate of 1 per 1.5-2 acres is pretty standard in the 'good months'... Depending on if you get snow, you may need to hay over winter. Just really depends on your location, forage quality, etc. But the highlands I had were GREAT browsers when grass got thin- so if you have to clear some area, rotationally over-grazing small paddocks works great for killing off unwanted brush!

2. In the winter, do you have a special holding padlock for them? I know cows can do damage to the ground during the winter and the spring months.
Yes, we have the "sacrifice pen" and it looks like a crater from the moon. Okay, not really THAT bad, but close! It's best to have one small area that gets beat up than to have all the fresh growing grass snuffed out in my book.

3. Is it worth it to get a Bull? I only want a small herd, of about 5 head.
I would check with local breeders to see how much the rental cost for a nice bull would be. Chances are, if you add up your purchase+feed costs for a bull that only produces a max of 5 calves/year, you're better off using someone else's bull- plus, you can use different bulls and retain heifer calves if you so choose!

For my yak herd, I do have my own bull, but that's because he doesn't eat much, and he has the specific color traits (high-white) I was looking to add to my herd. If you have a specific goal and find the perfect bull, by all means go for it, but the Highland bulls are big and the registered ones are pricey!

4. When calculating land, should i put in the calfs into the equation? Since they mature more slowly. Conceiving > Calf > table could take up to 2-3 years.
Yes, but my yearling calf ate about 2/3 what her 3 y/o mother did, so you may not have to count them as a full cow...

5. When should i sell the extra calves, as in age? Do i need to get them "table ready" or can i sell them younger to people wanting to use them in their own herd?
There are markets for both... Depending on the interest in your area, you could start a wait list for calves and any you don't sell you could raise up, sell ready to process, OR even send them to the butcher yourself and offer quarter/half/whole options to customers. Usually this takes a few years to build up some interest, so the grow out time is pretty appropriate!

Feel free to give me any extra information!
I don't have my Highlands anymore, but they are awesome critters! Just don't have the space here to run them. I have 10 wooded acres, and my Highland cow ate as much as 3 of my yaks. The yearling calf ate as much as 2 yaks. It just wasn't sustainable. They're both in herds of their own kind now, and MUCH happier without that pesky language barrier. But seriously, Highlands are awesome- If you are interested in milking, I was able to milk my Highland cow in the field. Properly trained, they are very workable and make great pets if that's what you want! Good luck with your new herd

[lonelyfarmgirl]

We have had highlands forever. They do eat less overall than your typical beef breeds (angus, hereford, etc) but in the long run it evens out because they grow ultra slow. They are also smaller over all, and yes, I've had some big ones, but it takes awhile to get them there.

I wouldn't count their food needs as any different than any other breed. You will have bad years on your pasture, then you will be short because you counted them as needing less. Better to over estimate.

There have been times that I sold every calf that hit the ground without trying and there have been times when I couldn't sell one to save my life. Now is one of those times. I have three I just can't seem to get rid of no matter how hard I try, but the bottle calf I decided to keep I have people begging me for.

The one distinct advantage in my experience to scottish highlands over any other breed is their ability to tolerate the worst weather.

Generally their attitude is docile but we've had a few loonies. The horns are a non-issue.

[opportunity]

Originally Posted by Nicholie Olie

1. I know land can vary a lot, but in general, how much land does a Scotch Highland Cow need? I've heard of a couple people only running them on 1 -1.5 acres. (when i did a google search and found this forum).
Mine eat about 3/4 of what the angus do look up animal units in your area and adjust accordingly. I ran I ran 7 last year on about 3 acres but it was irrigated this year it's dry so I will need about 8 acres for that group on the irrigated.

2. In the winter, do you have a special holding padlock for them? I know cows can do damage to the ground during the winter and the spring months.
Our ground is frozen in the winter so they get the hay fields. We used three ten acres fields in rotation this last winter with 32 cows on it the poop got thick on the one they were on longest.

3. Is it worth it to get a Bull? I only want a small herd, of about 5 head.
I like having my own bulls, it was about $100 extra for me to get a registered bull then a steer from several breeders so I buy a bull when I'm done with him he goes in the eaten group and I buy another bull for me it works.

4. When calculating land, should i put in the calfs into the equation? Since they mature more slowly. Conceiving > Calf > table could take up to 2-3 years. I would start counting the calf as 1/2 animal from 6-12 months then 2/3 of an animal until about 18 months then I count as a full animal

5. When should i sell the extra calves, as in age? Do i need to get them "table ready" or can i sell them younger to people wanting to use them in their own herd? Depends what your local market is and how you want to sell them. I have sold breeding stock but I mostly focus on grass feed beef so they usually have a better market for finished animals


Feel free to give me any extra information!

I love my highlands but they are harder to sell if I need to fast. they do usually do better with their babies but several people around here do not breed until 3 for the first calf at 4 as they produce longer then. you really have to wait longer it's a pain in the butt to keep the heifers away from the bull for 2-3 years until they are big enough

[Nicholie Olie]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful information! Im sorry this is such a late reply, but thanks! I appreciate it very much!