We often get asked why we chose Highland cattle. My response always includes the short-version of a conversation that I had with my dad when we started looking into the Highland breed. It went something like this:
Dad: Do you want cows or pets?
Lana: Pets.
In full disclosure, our decision was based on much more than that. They are beautiful animals but we were particularly drawn to their tolerance of Wisconsin winters, their willingness to eat things that other cattle won’t (although I’ve yet to witness that because we don’t give our animals free-will access to shrubs & trees), their superior meat quality, their history, their self-sufficiency & ease with calving, their longevity & production-and we wanted to be a part of ensuring this heritage breed survives. We’ve added a few additional qualities of our own over the years: their intelligence, mothering skills that resemble or surpass those of humans, & their gentle nature.
There are other heritage breeds that might be worth considering based on individual circumstance but we’ve never reconsidered our choice. Highland cattle are perfect for the small (or large) farm & if you get ’em early they make fantastic pets too.