Highland Cattle

[amysflock]

i'm not against the electric fence. i'm against carrying car batteries up and down and charging and carrying and switching and charging and switching and..... i'm on ohio, the only flat spot i see is about 3x3 ft. and it probably just looks flat, it's probably really tilted. which can be really annoying sometimes.

Ah, I see. We've got hotwire around our perimeter fence, electricity-powered through our pump house. Our temp fences tie off into the perimeter fencing. It would be a different story if we were in the middle of nowhere with no access to electricity, although jhm47's solution might work. Solar could, too, if solar is reliable in your area. (It's not in mine, but I do have a Highland breeder friend close to me who uses it in the summer and hasn't had problems.)

 

[ILoveHorses]

How big of a pasture to they need?

 

[amysflock]

Aim for about 1-1.5 acres per mature cow, but know that it all depends on how much forage you have and how willing you are to buy/feed supplemental hay, especially during winter.

 

[ILoveHorses]

OK! We have 2 1/2 acres!!

 

[amysflock]

Yes, you can. They're not a milking breed, per se, but they do have nice, rich milk. My buddy in AK (Pam, are you still on BYH?) milks her Highland regularly. I haven't tried it myself, mostly because I just can't make that kind of time commitment right now, but I am very curious about it.

If you're interested in a breed that's more dual purpose, you might look into Dexters. They have lines that are very dairy, and as smaller bovines, they can be a little easier to deal with - and won't produce as much milk as a full dairy breed would (Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, etc.).

 

[pascal]

Hi there, I'm new to cows and new to the site. I am about to take the plunge with 2 Highland steers. I was wondering what the best orientation for the electric fence wires is? We have 8 acres with 4 ft woven wire fence now. I've also been curious to find out if they can be "trained" to respect the fence so it doesn't need to be hot all the time. Any tips or advice is welcome.
Thanks

 

[ILoveHorses]

cool!
We are moving to TN next spring, im getting a cow horse, and some cattle, what would be a good diet for a herd of 10 cattle? Also, to they make good herding up cattle for a horse?

 

[dshappychicks]

Hello BYH! New to this site. I found you on BYC,(Love it!), just today! My DH and I have been talking about getting some cattle for our 32 acres for lots of years, but that's all we've done. I read a thread on mini cattle and started some research. From what I have read, this breed, Highland, seems to be the perfect breed for us. We have never had cattle before, but my dh's family always raised a beef steer (angus) for their large family. We would have to get our spring developed and a little fencing, but other than that we should be ready. We were thinking of getting a breeding pair and putting offspring in the freezer. I do have a few questions, though.
1. How much can I expect to pay for a good breeding pair?
2. How much hay can I expect to go thru in the winter months? (Live in sw ohio)
3. Do they need any supplementation?
4. What kind of pasture do they need? (I understand they will eat anything, but what is ideal for them)
5. What kind of milk do they give?
6. What is the avg. height?
7. At what age should I buy?
8. Do they all have horns? (kinda scares me! )
9. What do I need to look for when purchasing?
10. What time of year is best for buying?
So sorry this is such a long list, but I really like to know what to expect and what I'm getting into before I jump in! Anything else you may think of that I have missed, please feel free to advise. I really appreciate any and all comments! Thank you in advance!

 

[jhm47]

WHY in the world would you want to keep a bull for just one cow??? The cost and danger of keeping a bull should deter anyone from such a plan. Also, some insurance companies are now raising rates on farmers who keep a bull. AI---it's the way to go for only one cow.

 

[dshappychicks]

If you are replying to me, jhm47, thank you for your advice. Just learning! Seems I may have a lot to learn! I hadn't thought of AI. Very sound advice. Thank you again.