[JedM]

I'm sure there is a post on this somewhere but I can't find it!

Just wondering if anyone keeps sheep and cattle together?  I need to take my ram away from the ewes in the next few weeks, and was hoping to put him in with my 3 young highland heifers.

Will they hang out with each other happily?
and is there an issue with worming like with sheep and goats?

thanks

[landroverroy]

No problem at all. My suffolk ram lives quite happily with my highland cattle. In fact some rams will even let you know when the cattle are on heat, which can be useful.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I have kept  ram with dexters for a short time and found the young female calf couldnt get enough of him. Once her mum had finished washing her she would run over to my ram and do the same to him....I think she thought he was her dolly.    He learnt to tolerate it.


The adults head butted him though and he really did have to fight hard for a share of any food. He was excluded from the hay ring most of the time.


In terms of mixing them the only thing to watch out for is the ram accessing the cows mineral lick as it contains copper. I put my cow lick in one of those over the gate horse feeders so the cows could get it but the sheep couldnt.


I think LRRs Highlands are much nicer than my Dexters were.

[SallyintNorth]

Well, the Animal Welfare codes call for all herd (or flock) animals to have company of their own species, so it'd be best if he had a wether or two for company as well.

As to grown sheep with cattle, shouldn't be a problem, so long as the tups don't go for copper-rich licks, of course.

We try to keep lambs away from cattle, having had the odd injury or worse in the past.

[landroverroy]

The adults head butted him though and he really did have to fight hard for a share of any food. He was excluded from the hay ring most of the time.



I think LRRs Highlands are much nicer than my Dexters were.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with you there Buffy!  Highlands are actually very pleasant and laid back animals and have nothing of the "small person" complex so common in Dexters.

I actually have a photo somewhere of 2 sheep pushing the Highlands out of the food trough.

[Rosemary]

I read somewhere recently that in a herd of mixed breed cattle, Highlands will always be bottom of the bunting order, even with their horns. A previous tup of ours lived with Highland cattle and he seemed fine.

[JedM]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

It looks like it will work well then.  I'll give it a go, although I don't think my highlands have ever seen any other animal before.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

When I kept my longhorn cattle i always kept them in with the sheep. I still gave sheep wormer as per usual. Mixed grazing is supposed to help either party as the sheep pick up after the cattle and vice versa. One question are your highlands used to sheep? It could be a little problematic if they start chasing him around.