The OLDEST, BEST LOOKING, HARDIEST AND MOST USEFUL cattle breed in the world.
Originally bred in the harsh environment of the rugged Scottish Highlands and Western Isles, Highlands are well equipped to adapt to challenging conditions and thrive, where no other cattle could live.
You will fall in love with their docile nature and their cuddly looks.
If you are a commercial farmer, you will appreciate the fact that their beef is amongst the 10 best in the world and commands premium prices.
Trossachs Kintyre is committed to "PRESERVING THE HERITAGE" and source our breeding stock from the best bloodlines available in New Zealand and worldwide.
The Story
In 2006 The Schmidt family made the journey all the way from England to New Zealand. Although Chris admits the family didn’t know anybody in NZ at the time, this was an opportunity for an exciting new life which they literally grabbed by the horns.
But in order to realize the dream of becoming a full time farmer, the small holding had to become profitable. This meant that the land had to carry livestock that had real value which could turn a good profit. Back in England, Chris had always admired Highland Cattle for their good looks and noble appearance, but never dreamt of owning and breeding them: this was mainly because of two major stumbling blocks: the horns and the bull.
All articles in every lifestyle magazine urged buyers to dehorn cattle and advised against having a 1000kg testosterone charged animal of pure muscle on a small block. Both combined: horns and muscle, absolutely terrified Chris.
However, a visit to the Rotorua A&P show in January 2007 soon changed this. Chris admits that she would probably have a small herd of Alpacas by now because that was the other livestock option, she had considered. But the first display tent we came across at the show was in fact, ‘Trossachs Highlands’.
Chris approached Drew Stein of Trossachs Highlands about the possibility of farming Highland cattle on a small block. Drew was extremely helpful and provided some extremely useful information about the Highland breed. Chris states that Drew seemed to know exactly what the family needed: a foundation herd with a wide range of quality genetics. A few days later, Chris’ ‘starter pack’ arrived via e-mail.
As a foundation herd sire, Chris chose ‘Sinclair’, a hummel bull, sired by Laird of Trossachs, Meat and Wool Cup winner and New Zealand Supreme Champion. His dam was ‘Annie York of Trossachs’, a homozygous hummel which is extremely rare. The choice enabled Chris to enter the hummel market gradually. As for the heifers: Chris picked a dun coloured and a red heifer in order to cover a wide range of colours in future.
A month later the new cattle arrived. The family were all immediately captured by their magic and bonded with them really quickly. Chris’ earlier worries about the bull were totally unfounded and Sinclair turned out to be a complete gentleman, being also very affectionate. Before long, Chris and the boys were brushing Sinclair regularly in the paddock: Chris states that he really loves the close contact and company. The boys also quickly adapted and love helping with halter-training and feeding out.
The new fold was named ‘Kintyre Highlands’ after the ‘Mull of Kintyre’, a beautiful half-island in the north west of Scotland, a part of the country, which brought back happy memories of Chris’ life in the U.K.
In January 2008, Chris visited the three largest Highland folds in Scotland. The trip made her realize that Highland cattle are first and foremost a beef breed and one of the best in the world with that. The breed can be successfully farmed commercially and amongst all cattle breeds, they have the greatest potential to improve.
On her return to New Zealand Chris realized that her Rotorua lifestyle block had become too small for the intentions she had with the Highland cattle, therefore they decided to move yet again: this time to a 1000 acres sheep and beef farm near Wanganui. Co-incidentally the opportunity arose to purchase ‘Trossachs Highlands’ as Drew was retiring from farming. Before long the two studs were merged together with Drew still co-managing Trossachs-Kintyre.
The Cattle
For centuries the Highland breed lived in the rugged remote Scottish Highlands. The harsh conditions created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest animals survived.
Originally there were two classes: the smaller, black Kyloes, who inhabited the islands off the West Coast of Scotland and the larger red animals, which lived in the Scottish Highlands. In addition yellow, dun and white are also considered traditional colours.
Highland Cattle require little in the way of shelter or feed supplements to maintain good condition. They are excellent browsers, able to clear rough undergrowth efficiently.They adapt well to different climatic conditions, be it summer heat or snow and ice.
Despite the long horns the Highland is considered to be an even tempered animal. Due to their intelligence they respond well to human contact and can easily be halter broken.
The Highland is a disease resistant breed. Long lashes and dossan shield their eyes from flying insects, so pink eye and cancer eye are less common. Due to their genetic purity they are also more resistant to other bovine diseases.
Their meat is lean and lower in cholesterol, when compared with other beef breeds (the Highland is insulated by long hair, rather than a thick layer of fat. For many years Highland and Highland crosses have achieved higher scores in beef carcass competitions around the world. In the British Isles, Highland beef is recognized as the finest available and fetches premium prices and this reputation is spreading more and more as beef producers utilize the advantages of this age old breed.
Highland bulls are used as terminal sires over dairy and first time beef heifers as the cross-bred calves thrive from the hybrid vigour produced. Calves from Highland bulls are generally of smaller birth weight, which accounts for easy calving, which is then counter balanced by quick growth and finishing off.
Whether your interest is in pure bred animals or cross breeding, whether you run a large commercial operation or own a small lifestyle block, or if you only want a Highland as a pet to graze your front paddock – the stud assures you that the Highland cattle will meet your different needs.
The Stud
The Only Highland Stud in New Zealand to win 4 out of 6 New Zealand Highland Cattle Champions. There have only ever been six professionally acknowledged supreme Highland Champions in New Zealand.
• Three were bred by Trossachs Highlands • One was sired by a Trossachs Highlands bull • Another was owned by Trossachs Highlands
Drew Stein has stayed on at Trossachs Kintyre as a consultant. His 30 years of experience and reputation for breeding award-winning stock is invaluable.
The merging of Trossachs Highlands and Kintyre Highlands has produced a stud with the largest number and highest quality of Highland cattle in the country.
Support Services
Trossachs – Kintyre Highlands provides a number of support services to the Highland Cattle Industry
• There is a trade-in program where they guarantee to trade-in any Highland animal, regardless of grade or genetic bloodline
• The stud offers a visiting female program where they service clients’ females by running them with one of its selected sires
• Trossachs Kintyre develops comprehensive business plans for Highland breeders throughout New Zealand with a guaranteed follow up to compare actuals versus forecasts
• The stud is at the forefront of Highland Genetic Development with a number of trials being progressed
• They lease bulls to selected clients
Contacts
Enquiries and on-farm visits are always welcome. Please contact us by phone, email or just drop in.
Chris Schmidt
1304 Tokomaru East Road
RD1
Wanganui
(06)3421011
027 712 7487
chris.schmidt@xtra.co.nz
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