The Airyolland Fold
of Highland Cattle
In 2005,with the aim of replacing the
commercial suckler herd, the decision was made to bring the Highland
breed of cattle to High Airyolland
It was decided that the cattle fitted in with the long-term plan for
High Airyolland. It was proving quite difficult for marginal
farms to be profitable as far as simply food production is concerned
and there needed to be a move towards developing the potential of
environmental payments for land management.
News-Airyolland Highland Cattle
reaches New Milestone
The Airyolland fold of highland cattle has reached a new milestone with Neale and Janet travelling to Forres in Morayshire to purchase Longley Milestone, a Whitebred Shorthorn bull, from Adrian and Janice Wheelwright's Longley fold. We had the choice of eight bulls and were delighted with the quality on offer. Photo to follow soon.
We chose to cross the Highland cattle with the Whitebred rather than the Beef shorthorn because we wanted to produce a milkier cross heifer. The Whitebred will go to the cows in June 2012 and our Highland bull will be retained to sweep up and provide replacements.
| The Highland cattle will be self-generating.
While they may not make as much money, as modern suckler cows, they
are very easy to keep and have low requirements throughout the
winter when they are kept outside.
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Ironically, both the Beltex and the Highland cattle came to High
Airyolland after Neale had by chance spotted them elsewhere.
He first saw the Beltex crossed with Scotch Mules that he had supplied
to a farmer in France. He was very impressed with the lambs
and this resulted in him buying about a dozen gimmers from a well
known Beltex breeder in
Belgium.
And it was while fishing early in the morning on the Knoydart
Peninsula near to the village of Inveree in North West Scotland that
the sight of the
Highland cattle, which came down to the water to drink, made him vow
to start his own fold.
| Cattle at Knoydart |
| Below- The sight that inspired Neale to start his own fold
of Highland Cattle. |
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Black Highlander at Knoydart |
After the first purchase of three females bought in Oban in October 2005 further females were selected at sales at Oban and Perth and the fold now numbers 20 cows plus young stock and a stock bull. The cows calve in February and March.
As fate would have it, in 2008, five of the
cows Neale admired in Knoydart, three years before, made the mammoth
trip to Airyolland to join our fold of Torloisk, Craigowmill,
Garfield, Finnart, Earn, Gartchonzie, Lagg, Knockendon, Fourmerk,
Shanter, Achnacraig, Tullach Ard and Shenavallie females.
| Knoydart Black Highlander arrives at Airyolland |
 We have recently replaced our stock bull Cabhlaiche of Mottistone
with the brindle bull Corin of Benmeanach who was sired by Othello
2nd of Meggernie. |
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Corin of Benmeanach |
East of Scotland Highland Cattle Club Farm Visit.
On 26th September 2009, as part of
their annual weekend visit, the East of Scotland Highland Cattle
Club spent a day viewing the stock at High Airyolland. The day
started with a tour of the fold who were running with the bull,
Corin of Benmeanach
The group then viewed the Blackface flock that are crossed with a Bluefaced Leicester ram to breed Scotch Mules. To end their tour Neale took the party of breeders next door to see our neighbour's new herd of Luing cattle.
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After lunch the fun began with a stock judging competition consisting
of 2 classes of Highland heifers, 1 class of Blackies, 1 class of
Beltexes and finally the novelty class of Beltex tup photos. All
classes were ably judged by Billy Fergusson and the visitors competed
for their team which was chosen at random.
After the scoring was sorted out and victors awarded their prizes the
day ended with musical entertainment in the form of fiddles, bagpipes
and traditional songs performed by the McQuistin children and their
friends.
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Growing away in a natural environment.