There is at least one herd (fold???) here in Texas that I know of. It looks more like a hobby ranch. But across the border in Louisiana a retired vet named Alan Cameron has a serious operation. He is part of a group of breeders that is trying to get the red highlands started over here as a premium beef animal. They think if they can get enough herds started to began to get some name recognition the meat should sell for around twice the price of regular premium beef. At that kind of price point it starts to be profitable to raise them. There is at least one breeder in Michigan that is already making a go of it. Someone mentioned how docile the bulls seem to be. Alan brings one of his bulls and a couple of calves to one of our festivals. A couple of years ago he was walking around the venue leading the bull. He got tired of holding onto the lead rope so he draped it over the bulls horns and walked off. The bull just followed him like a puppy . They walked the entire clan tent row like that. Stock here in Texas is left on pasture all year round. Most ranchers don't even have a place to get them under cover. They have to feed hay and cubes in the winter but the animals do fine otherwise. Surprisingly the highlands do ok in this climate as long as the can get shade and water. They don't get shaggy though, and when it's really hot they will stop grazing during the day and sleep, then graze at night. Weather cools off they revert back to a normal pattern. R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of stephen davie Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:15 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle I guess the horn issue is a case of if you like the breed (highland) then you accept the horns. These cattle are seldom tied save for the times they are milked or need attention such as brushing or medical attention. They tend to be lighter, and don't punch up the pasture like the bigger beasts. In the winter, they yard up near a round bale feeder and the water troughs. They are a niche market that seems to survive, but their presence is so remarkable....proud and unique. Stephen On Sep 21, 2007, at 10:37 AM, Sian Thomas wrote: > Yes Robert, I suspect you are right that the livestock breeds kept > in the UK > will change. In Orkney I know many beef farmers are going for the > "Orkney > Gold" label. On Graemsay a number of farmers are in schemes to get a > premium for better quality beasts. > > Incidentally Stephen, kye with horns are not popular with Orkney > farmers. > Most kye in Orkney have to be over-winered in slatted-court byres, > or tied > up in stalls. Horns mean they are more likely to injure other kye, > as well > as the people handling them. The kye are taken off the fields > about October > to avoid them "poaching" up the ground and ruining the pasture for > next > year. They go back out to grass in March/April, depending on > weather and > ground conditions. > > Sian > Graemsay > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:31 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > >> >> The market for beef is changing and farmers are more >> likely to get paid for quality rather than quantity, in >> addition beef marketed as from a "traditional native >> British breed" can command a premium (in UK markets >> certainly) in addition to any premium due to superior >> quality. >> >> Robert >> >> > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The Michigan producer is perhaps near Lansing, for there was a fold there I knew of that flushed eggs and implanted grade cows with them. They sold their beef as you say, at least the cheaper cuts, for double the market price. The lady involved was a vet working at the University, and every animal slaughtered had a meat evaluation performed to prove the actual minimal fat content of the carcass. By flushing eggs, they produced a lot of volume on a relatively small acreage and a tight schedule. Texas for sure has it's rough lands, and that is why the original longhorns survived in the twitchy weather, meagre feed and rattlesnakes. Orkney seem well suited to support these critters on a rotation pasture basis on marginal land. Comes down to management and market in any area, but the Highland critter is one with a future again, albeit at a low impact market on any local market. It is a niche market that could double or triple, and still remain a very small sector niche market. They are a compact and economical beast to raise on marginal land. They are proven to be disease resistant, and their long flickering eyelashes protect them from insects that encourage pink eye for example. Affection for these critters is not proportionate to their market presence. They are very unique and noble beasts and they are good mascots for Scotland abroad. They should have a couple at the Glasgow airport to welcome the tourists, as nobody else seems to bother much with that essential courtesy and marketing basic. Cheers.... On Sep 22, 2007, at 5:12 PM, Royce Perry wrote: > There is at least one herd (fold???) here in Texas that I know of. > It looks > more like a hobby ranch. But across the border in Louisiana a > retired vet > named Alan Cameron has a serious operation. He is part of a group of > breeders that is trying to get the red highlands started over here > as a > premium beef animal. They think if they can get enough herds > started to > began to get some name recognition the meat should sell for around > twice the > price of regular premium beef. At that kind of price point it > starts to be > profitable to raise them. There is at least one breeder in Michigan > that is > already making a go of it. > Someone mentioned how docile the bulls seem to be. Alan brings one > of his > bulls and a couple of calves to one of our festivals. A couple of > years ago > he was walking around the venue leading the bull. He got tired of > holding > onto the lead rope so he draped it over the bulls horns and walked > off. The > bull just followed him like a puppy . They walked the entire clan > tent row > like that. > Stock here in Texas is left on pasture all year round. Most > ranchers don't > even have a place to get them under cover. They have to feed hay > and cubes > in the winter but the animals do fine otherwise. Surprisingly the > highlands > do ok in this climate as long as the can get shade and water. They > don't get > shaggy though, and when it's really hot they will stop grazing > during the > day and sleep, then graze at night. Weather cools off they revert > back to a > normal pattern. > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:orcadia- > [email protected]] On > Behalf Of stephen davie > Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:15 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > I guess the horn issue is a case of if you like the breed (highland) > then you accept the horns. These cattle are seldom tied save for the > times they are milked or need attention such as brushing or medical > attention. They tend to be lighter, and don't punch up the pasture > like the bigger beasts. In the winter, they yard up near a round bale > feeder and the water troughs. They are a niche market that seems to > survive, but their presence is so remarkable....proud and unique. > Stephen > On Sep 21, 2007, at 10:37 AM, Sian Thomas wrote: > >> Yes Robert, I suspect you are right that the livestock breeds kept >> in the UK >> will change. In Orkney I know many beef farmers are going for the >> "Orkney >> Gold" label. On Graemsay a number of farmers are in schemes to get a >> premium for better quality beasts. >> >> Incidentally Stephen, kye with horns are not popular with Orkney >> farmers. >> Most kye in Orkney have to be over-winered in slatted-court byres, >> or tied >> up in stalls. Horns mean they are more likely to injure other kye, >> as well >> as the people handling them. The kye are taken off the fields >> about October >> to avoid them "poaching" up the ground and ruining the pasture for >> next >> year. They go back out to grass in March/April, depending on >> weather and >> ground conditions. >> >> Sian >> Graemsay >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:31 PM >> Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle >> >> >>> >>> The market for beef is changing and farmers are more >>> likely to get paid for quality rather than quantity, in >>> addition beef marketed as from a "traditional native >>> British breed" can command a premium (in UK markets >>> certainly) in addition to any premium due to superior >>> quality. >>> >>> Robert >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message