The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: The Chicken Lady on March 19, 2008, 06:25:14 pm
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I am thinking of getting two calves - any suggestions where to start?
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The breed society is always a good place to start.
Our smallholders' association visted the Torrie fold on Highlands on Sunday - some lovely cattle, especially Hunny Bunny, a little ginger yearling. I was, however, strictly forbidden to bring anything alive home. So had some pies instead.
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That's a problem with highland cattle - you can't get them in your boot! I regularly go to look at poultry at our local market. I say I am just going to look but always come back with something in the boot. Even the children say as I pull into the yard "what have you bought now" Once I fooled them though I didn't buy anything!
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I just picked up two steer calves the other week both about 6 months old and debudded, very small and very cute!
I had bought three heifers a few years ago at the local Highland Cattle sale, they were about 12 months old with horns.
In the short time I've had the new additions, I would say they are easier to handle and have been very easy to haulter train them. The horns isn't the problem as at that age they are wee stumps anyway it is is the size of the calves. That few extra months meant they were bigger, stronger and more weary of people.
This time round I have had the luxury of a small cattle pen consisting of 4 cattle gates, I am able to get the calves into this pen and using their feeding trugs as bait, I can put their haulters over them. During which time I brush them all over so they get used to human contact, this is with the foresight if I need to get a vet to look at them (the last three never needed the vet).
This time of year is perfect for getting them as they will have Mother Nature on their side with regards to grass and weather
I had suggested in the "Marketplace" about the Perth Sale coming up shortly, but see you are based in Cheshire, might be a bit far for you? There may be similar markets down nearer you? The other option is the Society's website, they have a sales section that may interest you as some of the cattle are in South of the Border here's the link for you http://www.highlandcattlesociety.com/for_sale_wanted.php (http://www.highlandcattlesociety.com/for_sale_wanted.php)
I am no means an expert but would say that of all the animals I have, which include Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Guinea Fowl, Chickens, Cats, Dogs and now 2 Tamworths, they are the easiest to look after :- as long as they have enough space, grass and water they are very contented and very appealing to look at.
Hope this helps a wee bit?
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;)If you would like to e-mail me then I might be able to help, we have milking cows and calves also some fattening Bullocks.
Regards
J.
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There is a couple of adverts in Farmers Guardian this week - Highland young stock in Lancashire, North Cornwall, Northumberland (heifers) and an 01524 number (why don't folk put where they are?).
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Thanks for your help. I am still looking. I tried someone more laocal last weekend but he could not sell any as he has a case of TB :'(
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How long do you keep them for, how much do they cost to buy. I am looking at what stock we would like to keep, we have piges and chicks etc but looking at a few bullocks, would like to know as much as poss about them.
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Can anyone help with the above information????????????
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I don't have highland cattle yet but am looking to purchase in the near future. Apparently they are easy to keep as they will thrive on poor grass. They can live out all year round. Despite their appearance they are placid gentle cows - good mothers. You have to slaughter before 30 months for the food chain however I have heard that you can slaughter later but they have to be tested for something or other and only certain slaughter houses are allowed to do this after thirty months. Do you want to know anything else? :cow: :)
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Thank you for all that info, do you know what the cost per animal would be to buy?
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Is it only Highland cattle you are interested in? If you want to start cheap, you would get baby calves from £50 (Holstein bulls) to £180 for continental cross bulls. Bucket feed them to 12 weeks and fatten them on. Locally, store cattle were selling for £536 per head (6-12 months). You would probably be killling continental crosses at 18 - 24 months.
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Not just Highland, any would do. My friend had dexters but stopped due to paper work out of date and he lost the lot, never again he said.
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The cost will vary depending on age and pedigree. A yearling can cost around £250 although occasionally I see some for £150. Cows for breeding cost £450 upwards. I do know where a cow with calf at foot will cost £600 :cow: :) You could have a look on www.themerecastonfold.com
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Thank you for the info, Chicken Lady your link did not work?
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I contacted the lady who owns the site. She could not get onto it either so she is looking into it. Will let you know when it is up and running again :)
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Hello,
I am the trainee warden at a nature reserve right on the Herts/Bucks border near Tring. We have a lone Highland cow that we are looking to re-home and wondered if anyone would have space for her. She is 10 years old and very friendly but her companion recently died so we are looking to move her on.
Thankyou kindly,
Gareth Luscombe
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I am just bursting with excitement. I don't suppose anyone will be interested but after 12 months of looking, research, saving and preparation - I am going with money in my pocket to buy some highland cattle tomorrow ;D I know I will be getting 2 of something ::) Proberbly a cow with calf at foot. Maybe even in calf again. Will be telling everyone how I get on. :cow:
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We'll look forward to hearing all about your spending spree!
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Had no problem with your link chicken lady.
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hello chicken lady have u had any luck at the sales ow much did they cost in the end are they pedagriee have u thought about breeding from them out of intrest i was looking on the internet yesterday on and AI site called genus and they only have 1 pedagiree highland bull seamen in store they can do the whole thing for u as iam told i was looking into for my cattle as well
i was reading the forum and the prices where discused about the cost of cattle from looking around localy that would be very cheap even for a bullock cross from a dairy cow cattle for finishing are fetching in the region of 800-900 pounds a few months ago cos i spoke to a chap who finished cattle for sainsburys he does around 5000 a year he was moaning bout the price he was having to pay i brought breeding stock a cow in calf is £1500-1800 and if she has a calf at foot i £2500 :cow:
i was told because of the foot and mouth over the last 10 years the country lost a lot of its spare cattle reserves and breeding stock basicly a shotage thats y the beef price is high i think its around 255 pence per kg at the mo sori my mistake its 283.9ppkg just had a look for a good carcus i have to applogise for the spelling lol let me knoe how u got on at the sales in the end
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I am sooooo tired. What a day! I have my yellow highland cow that is in calf with a white calf at foot. She has been running with a black bull and I am told that she will more than likely have a red calf. So I will have a variety of colours. The cow I have has won many prizes and has been in an advert for tennants larger! She is 10 years old and I chose the older cow as she let me handle her and I felt as she was my first I was better gaining confidence with her before I expand my herd. Now for the main bit - price. £550. In effect I hopefully have 3 for that price! I thought getting 2 was a good price so if I get a calf in March I will be chuffed ;D There was alot to choose from and I would have liked a very nice black cow with a red calf at foot but she had not been halter trained. They are selling the whole herd as the owner has moved bak to the USA. My previous link did not work as I put an e too many in. It is www.themercastonfold.com
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Congratulation. Once you've rested and recovered, pics please. Funny how exhausting spending money is.
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I have been in the field with my cow a couple of times now - taken some hay and some feed in a bucket today. She does not really need anything, it is just to get her to know me. She stands still and lets me stroke her - the calf will not come near me yet but she is still a baby. I am sure she will soon. I am just waiting for all her papers to arrive I can't remember her full gaelic name but it means lovable one I think! I will take some photo's but I do not have much luck posting them - it always tell me that they are too big. :cow:
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hi good luck with the geting to know them it will be so help full when it comes to calfing or medical probs
what type of feed are u useing at the moment as mine r still on the grass untill we have either a complete blanket frost or snow as recomened by the breeder but i was thinking of giving them hay around the end of november possably the middle of nov depends on the weather is the feed a sepcial one for in calf cows
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I still have plenty of grass too. As I said it is just a way of getting to know them at the moment. I have given them hay as I already have that as we have a pony. I bought some cattle mix from the local animal feed suppliers. Highlands should not really need much feeding. I will proberbly give them silage when they need feeding in the winter.