Walk around and not through the cattle.What sets us apart from others selling Highland cattle?.Should the cattle rush you with your dog on Sometimes run after dogs, and by not using a lead the dog can easily escapeĪnd keep the cattle away from you. Keep your dog close to heel if you are on a bridle or footpath.Do not approach and try and touch a Highlander.Protect her calf and she could go for you. Avoid placing yourself between a cow and her calf.When near Highlanders, or any cattle, there are Importantly, please remember that cattleĪnd dogs do not generally mix. Seldom handled, and although the animals are normally docile, they can be put Walkers and others looking at the Highland cattle should realise they are In 2006, 60 cows and heifers were bulled.Ĭonservation’s or the Highland Cattle Society’s websites. In 20 we purchased groups of heifers from the Kindrochiad Fold on Islay they contain some of the best and oldest strains in the Stud Book and are the hardiest of stock. Looking cattle purchased by Philip Butchers, our main subsequent purchases haveīeen from the Balure, Brookfield, Kiln, Ellerdine and The Pheasant Folds. In addition to the original unregistered but good We have been fortunate that most of our stock comes from very good blood lines. We are continually seeking to improve the quality of our stock. If exceptional, they will be kept by Wight Conservation as stock bulls, but otherwise sold. In February 2005, we purchased the Champion Female, Iseabal 9th of Carsaig, and in October 2005 we purchased our third Champion Female, Kerrie 2nd of Earn.īull calves out of our championship-bred cows will escape castration and be taken from the main fold at weaning. The first, a bull calf, is very closely connected to this year’s Oban champion Bull. In February 2003, we purchased the overall Female Champion, the three year old heifer Lucy of Balure who has since bred two calves for us. We regularly visit the Oban Sales to top up our stock by purchasing the best blood lines from the hardier and rough-weather Scottish folds. Our homebred Iasgair of Mottistone, which served as a bull in 2005, was the top priced bull at Oban in 2006 after winning the overall Bull Championship for us. Ruairdh (Rory) of Glengarnoch (a champion bull at the Royal Highland Show in 1999) was purchased at the Oban Sales in spring 2004, Eoin Mhor of Miungairigh in 2006 and Guag 1st of Culfoich in October 2006. Our three stock bulls were purchased from Scotland because we want to retain the breed’s tough hardy characteristics. Our aim is to build up the largest and best The scale of public access on the estate and the ease of handling, temperament Wight Conservation breeds selectively, choosing heifers of good pedigree, size,Īnd conformation for beef production, with correct heads and horns. When three years’ old and should breed annually thereafter up until about 18īarren cows are selected as 'nannies' to the young heifers at Mottistone and The heifers with good conformation are retained as breeding stock, whilst the In the spring, the young heifers are sent to grazeĮither at Mottistone Down or Idlecombe, returning again to Wroxall in the 'finisher' who specialises in Highland meat. The steers remain in the Wroxall lowland fields until they are sold or sent to a De-horning makes them much easier to manage during subsequent handling and transporting. Pregnancy lasts 9 months.Ĭalves are identity-tagged within 24 hours, and before 6 months the young males are castrated and de-horned. Heifers and then removed by the 1st August.

On the 1st May the bulls are put in with the cows and

The cow’s annual cycle begins when the calves are born between the 1stįebruary and 30th April.

Shoots of weeds we would otherwise have to control. With their long powerful horns, they fearlessly bashĪnd clear their way through the thickest of scrub and undergrowth, eating muchĪs they go. Remnants of the destroyed forestry and the secondary growth resulting from the Purchased to 'scrub bash' on Mottistone Down, helping the machinery to clear the Highlanders are an essential tool for Wight Conservation. Live out in all seasons and weathers, and have a long breeding life.įurthermore, they are relatively light in weight and therefore reduce poaching Grazers - they will eat a wide range of vegetation unpalatable to most cattle -, Highland cattle are the ideal choice for conservation grazing. Wight Conservation - Highland Cattle Why Highlanders?

Highland calf