I researched another nearby Highland cattle herd. My enthusiasm prompted me to nickname myself “Tommy McCoos” when talking and emailing about my Highland cattle.Īcquiring my own bull was my next objective. I have a wonderful memory of a little girl not quite 7 showing a Highland bull of over a thousand pounds with just a halter. Sights and sounds of a Highland Piper starting the shows warmed my Scottish heart. Going to shows and seeing Highland cattle at their best was very exciting. I truly enjoyed the people and experiences associated with this group. I think my membership was connected to registering my original stock. In all my years of raising cattle, I had never shown any cattle or been part of an association like the AHCA. They were so photogenic I took many pictures and showed them to everybody, including making a T-shirt. I put my first Highland calf in deep dry straw and Mom did the rest. To my delight, Niniel the mother just followed me back to the barn with soft moos. As I watched her over my shoulder, I picked up the slightly soggy 50 pounds of fur and started walking to the barn. I was cautious because Highland cattle can be very protective of their young. This was my first encounter with a Highland cow and calf relationship. She was dusted with snow, but snug as a bug in a rug.
I quickly searched and found her in the remains of a round bale in the pasture. My first cow had calved, but no baby was in sight. By the time I got home from work there had been a little icy snowfall. About nine months later, my first calf was born. As time passed, the girls would maneuver to me whenever I brought the cattle comb into the barnyard.īy the next summer, I borrowed Donny’s bull, Hogan, and hoped for the best. I had never witnessed that much acceptance by a breed of cattle outside of pail-fed calves. When I got them home I locked them in the barn, and in only a day they were taking treats and letting me brush them. One week tied to a halter, and we led them right onto the trailer. Only a week before I picked these girls up they were loose in a herd. I soon bought four heifers, three for me and one for Donny, to enrich his growing herd. And as I later concluded, they too were only gentle giants. The breeders’ bull never concerned himself with our presence. As for the bull, Daddy always said, “There is nothing more dangerous on a farm than a pet bull.” The reason: you turn your back on a pet bull. I was no stranger to cattle, and could also see they showed no threat. The breeder reassured me of their docile attitude. I must admit I was apprehensive to walk out into a pasture with all those horns, including a bull. I tracked down the closest breeder for the American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA). I set out to start my own herd of Highland cattle. Coincidentally, my best friend Donny had already acquired a pair of young Highlands. I became fascinated by this regal-looking hairy beast. About this same time in my life I was investigating my own Scottish heritage.
Scottish Highland cattle became the most memorable breed for which I had the pleasure of caring. It took getting my own farm in my 40s to focus on the best breed of cattle I could truly enjoy and invest my limited time in. Over the years, I have enjoyed raising Jersey cows, Herford cattle, Simmental cattle, Dexter cattle, Charolais cattle and belted Galloway cattle. Years passed, but I always kept a little beef herd growing at my father’s farm. There were a lot of chores for a boy in those days. At home, we kept our own herd of Black Angus. I spent much of my youth at Grandpa’s dairy farm, including milking cows in my later teens. Contact us by email ) for availability.Story & Photos By Tom Fuller – Cattle have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and Highland cattle are by far the most memorable and entertaining breed of my cattle raising experiences. These include Scotch fillet, Porterhouse Steak, Rump or Topside, Cross Cut Blade, Schnitzel, Roast, Silverside and Mince, Sausages and Salami. Vacuum-packed cuts are sometimes available. To thank you for your contribution we may send you a Knapdale Highland Beef parcel when we process a male animal. This contributes to the grazing and maintenance costs of our herd. Calf prices are between $350 and $800 depending on their grade and age.įor $2 you can also become a shareholder in the Knapdale Highland Beef Shareholder’s Register. Our Highland cows cost between $600 and $800. A and B Grade cows with calves at foot.A Grade cows scanned in calf (A grade cows are 87.5% Highland, 12.5% Hereford).B Grade cows scanned in calf (B grade cows are 75% Highland, 25% Hereford).With the exception of some bulls to keep our bloodlines clean, all our cattle have been born at Knapdale. The decision to farm Scottish Highland Cattle was to keep the roots with Scotland - Knapdale is the name of the lands the McMillans farmed in Scotland.
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