How to Care for Highland Cattle
The Highland cattle breed originates from the Scottish Highlands and is known for its long horns and wavy coats that help them withstand harsh weather conditions.
While extremely hardy, Highland cattle still require proper care and management to remain healthy and productive.
In this blog article, we will cover everything you need to know as a beginner or experienced Highland cattle owner, including ideal housing conditions, nutritional requirements, health considerations, and breeding practices.
Choosing the Right Housing Conditions
Highland cattle are well adapted to live outdoors year-round, even in cold climates. However, providing some shelter is still important to protect them from extreme wind, precipitation, and temperature fluctuations. The main housing considerations include:
1. Pasture Area: Highland cattle require a large pasture area with varied terrain and vegetation for optimal grazing. At least 2-5 acres per animal is recommended. The pasture should have a reliable water source.
2. Shelter Space: A three-sided shelter or loafing shed of about 20-30 square feet per animal should be provided. The open side should face away from the prevailing wind. The shelter should be well-ventilated and bedded with straw.
3. Fencing: Install sturdy, high-tensile fencing around the pasture perimeter. Electric fencing may also be used for rotational grazing. Barbed wire fencing is not ideal as their long hair often gets caught.
Providing Optimal Nutrition
While Highland cattle can utilize poor-quality forage, providing high-quality pasture and supplements is key to good health and production.
1. Pasture: Utilize multiple paddocks and move cattle rotationally to prevent overgrazing of any one area. Avoid continuous grazing.
Include hardy legumes in pastures like clovers, which fix nitrogen and provide higher protein content. Scout regularly for poisonous weeds and remove any found.
2. Hay and Silage: During winter or in dry periods when pasture declines, feed good quality grass or mixed grass-legume hay. Fermented silage can also be fed to boost fiber and energy levels if of sufficient quality. Both should be free of molds and spoilage.
3. Grain: Whole grains or pelleted rations specially balanced for cattle can be fed at key times like weaning at 6 months or in the 30 days pre-calving.
This boosts calf growth and the dam’s milk production for nursing her newborn calf. Limit grain at other times due to risk of acidosis and bloat.
4. Minerals: Installing a free-choice mineral feeder with a complete mineral mix designed for beef cattle ensures their mineral needs are consistently met.
Essential minerals include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, selenium and others. Consult your veterinarian on ideal supplementation.
5. Water: Provide an unlimited supply of clean, fresh water. Automatic livestock waterers are best. In cold climates, add float-controlled tank heaters to prevent freezing over winter months. More than one source may be needed in large pastures.
Paying Close Attention to Health
While generally hardy, health issues can still occur in Highland Cattle. Being proactive and identifying problems early optimizes treatment success.
1. Deworming: Perform fecal egg count tests at least twice yearly to determine parasite load. Heavy worm burdens stress animals and reduce performance. Deworm all animals if counts exceed a given threshold using approved dewormers like ivermectin. Rotate dewormers to prevent resistance.
2. Vaccinations: Work with a veterinarian to determine the appropriate annual vaccination program. Common vaccinations given to beef breeds in most regions of North America include IBR, BVD, PI3, Leptospirosis, BRSV and in some areas, rabies. Follow vet’s bolstering recommendations.
3. Hoof Care: Left neglected, the long hooves of Highlands can crack or overgrow uncomfortably. Regular scheduled trimming every 6-12 months is recommended depending on growth rate and time of year. A hoof shear, nippers and rasp tool make trimming safer and less stressful.
4. Calving Care: Monitor calving heifers and cows closely in the 4 weeks preceding calving. Ensure facilities are prepared with clean bedding.
Be ready to assist during difficult calvings and call the vet for guidance if needed. Give colostrum within first few hours and check calf health.
5. Body Condition: Regularly assess body condition scores on a 5 point system. Pay special attention before calving and breeding seasons. Provide supplemental feed to cattle dropping below a score of 3. Skinny cows suffer reduced productivity.
6. Illness Symptoms: Learn common disease symptoms so prompt treatment can be given. Examples are lameness from foot rot, nasal discharge or swollen udders from mastitis, eye lesions from pinkeye. Isolate and consult vet for any odd presentations.
Best Breeding Practices
To produce healthy Highland calves annually, certain breeding guidelines should be followed.
1. Age: It is generally recommended to breed Highland heifers for the first time between 15-18 months of age. This allows them to achieve suitable skeletal and pelvic development before calving.
Mature cows are very productive and often remain fertile until over 10 years of age if cared for properly.
2. Breeding System: Both natural breeding using a bull and artificial insemination (AI) are common breeding methods for Highlands. Bulls can potentially remain sexually active and fertile up to 12 years old.
For AI, heat detection is crucial as Highland cows show subtle signs of estrus. Tools like pedometers or bull exposure can aid detection.
3. Breeding Season: Most breeders aim to have calves born within a compact 60-90 day calving season rather than year-round calving.
This eases management demands. Calving in early spring allows calves adequate time to grow before winter. The breeding season is planned accordingly, being 60-90 days prior to the start of calving.
4. Calving Interval: To maintain annual productivity and prevent cow exhaustion, a minimum recovery period of 60-90 days post-calving is recommended before re-breeding a cow. GivenIdeal calving intervals range between 415-450 days. Highland cows commonly calve every 18 months on average.
5. Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate breeding, calving and health details in a dedicated register is important.
Recording calving dates, sire identification, calf health issues, and weaning weights permits evaluating cow performance. Breeding decisions factor in these records to select appropriate sires and dams.
In Conclusion
While extremely hardy, Highland cattle require special provisions like ample pasture, shelter from the elements, quality nutrition, health management and a well-planned breeding program.
By following the best practices outlined in this guide, both small farm owners and large cattle operations can experience excellent performance and productivity from this special breed.
Be sure to partner with an experienced large animal vet as well to optimize breeding, preventive care, and illness treatment programs. Highland cattle can thrive for over 20 years with good management, contributing greatly to farm sustainability.
