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HIGHLAND CATTLE
Big Piney Highlands is our little piece of earth on the bluffs above the Big Piney River where we raise Scottish Highland Cattle. Its located near Boiling Spring, west of Licking Missouri beyond where Highway BB crosses the river. Our highlands are not registered and they are raised for their quality of beef on GRASS ONLY. Highland Cattle are one of the oldest registered breeds of cattle in the world. Their genetics have NOT been tampered with for centuries - and they have some of the most hardy traits known to the bovine world. We raise them simply because they provide the finest taste and texture of beef that you can put into your mouth - all naturally without chemical enhancements or supplemention. Our Highlands are the "true all natural grassfed beef "
To find out about beef for sale
go to our NEWS Section OR CLICK HERE
Highlands are excellent mothers and very rarely need any assistance while birthing their calves. Their double layer of hair offers protection from both weather and insects. With long forelocks hanging over their eyes and long eye lashes, they rarely have any eye problems associated with other breeds of cattle. This little guy was born in Febuary and was going good when the grass greened up in spring.
A good link for Highland Cattle is:
CLICK HERE >>> Heartland Highland Cattle Association
Big Piney Highlands are raised with a MiG system (management intensive grazing system) in which the land is sub-divided into a paddock system. This system allows the livestock to be moved to new areas of fresh grasses and forages on a continual basis, thus allowing adequate "rest" to the land, resulting in more vegetaion and better root structure. The fencing is entirely 12.5 gauge hi-tensile electric wire. Most cross fences are polywire on reels and portable tread-in posts, that can be easily put up and moved by one person. This flexibility with the cross fences allows us to watch and analize our forages and maintain stocking rates based on climatic conditions. These cross fences are generally only one or two strands.
Above & Below are a couple of new arrivals May 2008
Our cattle are well trained for electric fencing and the calves learn very quickly and are also easily kept where we want them with a single strand of 12.5 gauge hi-tensile or polywire fencing.
Here is a young heifer calf with one of our temporary cross fences in the foreground. This one is mounted on 1/2" x 4' fiberglass posts. There are two strands of 12.5 gauge hi-tensile wire and attached to the post with some special galvanized clips that are adjustable. This is a semi-permanent fence that can be moved if needed. It is also a good fence for wildlife as we have lots of deer and turkey on the property. This fence can easily flex and bend then return back upright should wildlife pressure occur. You can read more about this type of fencing at http://www.powerflexfence.com
Picutured above is Gary, checking in on some of the Highland steers. Notice the two strands of electric fence wire. The lower one is very much in the grass, but with plenty of power on the fence it keeps the forages browned down without much power loss. Most ol'barbed wire boys would not believe that this fence would keep cattle in - but it does. It will cost less, is more effective and will last 3 to 4 times longer than barbed wire !
Our daughter, Betsy, feeding one of the momma cows. We dont suppliment our cows but we do carry around a few all natural range cubes for treats. This keeps 'em friendly and they come when we call 'em. One (my) style of "bovine management". Despite Highlands mysterious appearance with the long hair and long horns - they are extremely docile and have great dispositions. They respond quite well to gentle, well planned and thought out handling techniques and ideals. To read more about low stress livestock handling you can visit: Hand'n Hand Livestock Solutions that is operated by my friends Richard McConnel & Tina Williams.
To me, the business end of a bovine begins with the momma cow. She needs to be a good momma and raise a quality calf - but most importantly to me, she has to be able to do this ALL on her own on the grass and forages that mother nature provides. I need to be a good stewart of the land, she needs to do the work. I don't want to be out there in the cold of winter feeding hay. Hey, isnt hay actually grass, duh ? Yes, I do have hay, just in case we get hit with a hard winter, but I would rather sell it than feed it. Normally we have more grass in May and June than we can graze, so we contract someone with "black smoke belching equipment" to come in and put up a little hay for us. I guess its comforting to know we have it. But, our goal is to not feed any hay. We graze it, naturally. And, this breed of cattle is well equipped to deal with the winter climate, while I am in the office, in the shop or in the studio. Their hardiness amazes me. In a driving snowstorm, they are like buffalo - they face the wind in the open and do not go off in a corner and turn away from it like most cattle do. And, they will be out grazing when most cattle are bawling for hay !
Pictured above and below are some of our Highland steers. These pictured will be ready for processing in the late summer or fall of 2008. These animals will be totally all natural, raised entirely on grass. Scottish Highland cattle are a slower maturing breed, they will be approximately 30 to 32 months at age of processing. They will be dry aged for a minimum of 21 days and provide the best beef you have ever placed upon your pallette. This will compare to the average grocery store beef that may be 14 to 18 months old, (pumped full of growth promotents & antibiotics) and aged in the bag going down the interstate. If you would like to be put on a "To Call" list when we have beef available & for sale, just call us at 573-674-1012 or Garys cell at 417-254-0903.
Above are some Highland heifers that are being breed at present. As I mentioned earlier, Highlands are a slower maturing breed of cattle, however they are also one of the most long lived. I have visited with people raising Highlands that have cows still having calves at 20 years +.
The above photo is a typical setting in summer time. This is a grouping of cows & calves in good grass. A pleasing sight.
This photo above was taken in latefall 2007 at the tail end of the fall colors. This pasture had hay taken off of it in June and unused until November. There was good undergrowth for grazing in this field. We will graze it pretty short this winter to help get some clovers established in the spring.
Pictured above is a nice white heiferette with her first calf. She has done a good job and is a good mother. She is one of my favorites and wish I had more like her. Below is a close up of her. She has a long flowing white hide, with a nice sweeping set of horns. She moves great and about he perfect size for doing her job on grass. Her calf is a bull, and I may keep him around.
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Fall & Winter 2007 / 2008 Grazing
This page is still somewhat
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
So check back again as I will be adding more soon !
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