Does anyone have hands on experience with West Highland Cattle?

Question

I'd love to hear how long you were involved with them, and the good, the bad, and the ugly about that breed of cattle.

I've read and researched plenty on them, but reading is not the same as doing.

Are they really as gentle as the written things I've read sugest?

Are the bulls really as gentle as is sugested?

Did you run the West Highlands with any other stock?

What kind of problems did you run into with those massive horns?

Thank you for any tips or advice you could give me. I'd also be very happy to hear about any other heritage breed of cattle, beef, or dual purpose (not interested in dairy), which would be suited to the rainy Pacific Northwest. I will be living in an area of Washington with colder/snowier than average winters for the Pacific Northwest.

Answer 1

I don't have Highland cattle but have heard that they aren't always as friendly as you'd like.  But what animal is always nice?  The folks I've talked to at the fairs love them.  The animals I've seen at the Highland Games have been nice calm animals...and the babies are sooo cute. <G>

Now for other breeds.  When looking for heritage type breeds I looked into both Highland and Dexter.  When my husband talked to a cow friend the Dexter was recommended.  We bought two heifers and we are not sorry we did.  They are also a calm breed but half the size of standard cattle.  So, less room required, less feed.  They are a dual purpose breed.  We will be butchering our first steer this Friday.  Our heifers had their first babies in April.  Dropped a heifer each, easy birth no help needed...just like people have said.  I don't know where you are in PNW, but if you're anywhere near Enumclaw come to the fair...there will be a Dexter show on July 15, I'm not sure what time.  You'll get to see this wonderful little breed.  

EDIT:  Oh and if you want more info email me, I love to talk about our girls <G>

Answer 2

A neighbouring Highland farm ran them.  I don't know how intensively/extensively you want to manage them, or just how your climate compares to Scottish weather, but traditionally they were run with little or no winter feeding, and had a natural tendency to calve only every second year if forage was scarce.

They are generally very docile, and I never saw a bull get riled.  However, I have been chased for my life by cows which had just had their 9-month calves separated from them.  They cleared fences and walls and made the area a no-go for pedestrians for a week.  Good mothers!

I was never involved with confining them for treatment, but I know that the cattlecrush needed modification to accommodate the bull.

Answer 3

The best tasting one we ever grew to eat was a Scottish Highlander.  We didn't know that was what it was until it got a little older and I found a picture on a breed’s website...and said....ah ha!

When we took him in to be processed he was the heavier of all of the yearlings even though he didn't look it.  He ate less than the other beef breeds and wasn't bothered by the weather and he was very friendly unlike the Charolais and the Limousine that constantly was jumping the fences.