The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Browntea on May 07, 2012, 06:36:18 pm
-
new to cattle but im very interested, low maintainence highland or similair required,prefer calfs as they WILL be pets..breeding comes second!! Please mail me teegan01@msn.com or call 07837620853 thanks
-
I'd recommend Shetlands 'cos that's we have. They are small, hardy, thrifty and docile. They are horned but the horns are much smaller than the Highland. They are quite rare - fewer than 750 breeding females - so unless you are getting bullocks as pets, I would encourage you to breed (with advice from the breed society about genetics) pure cattle.
-
:wave:Whereabouts are you?
Highlands are certainly low maintenance. Because they can survive on poor grazing, their digestive system is 30% more efficient than that of the "improved" breeds.
They require no housing in winter. In fact they do not like being totally enclosed, although they will use an open building for shelter, so long as they can come and go at will.
So they don't need concentrates or any extra feeding, but will happily overwinter on hay alone and produce a decent calf and sufficient milk for it.