21/01/2024
Well it's the New Year and I'm in planning mode as perhaps some of you are here too. I have full blood Galloway cows and a beautiful pure bred Highland bull. Together they have created some beautiful calves. Both double coated breed, well natured, easy calvers and non fussy browsers. As my bull is polled so are all his calves. Now I understand people like pure bred and so I have added another pure bred bull to go over my new heifers with a view to offering pure bred in the future. In the meantime I have a young bull who is a first cross, so 50/50 Highland over Galloway. He is a beautiful blend of them both. Why didn't I steer him? Well I thought the hybrid vigour for meat breaders might be another line of market options. I have a small herd of only 17 now, and the idea of eating them or selling for meat at this point is dificult. We do have freezers full of meat though as 2 older steers have gone. Strangely enough I am happy to be able to offer quality meat to my family and friends. There is something about being more self sufficient and feeding people quality produce that ticks a box in me I didn't know I had. Anyway, the point of this is to get some feedback. What are you all doing with your animals? Are they eating grass and furthering the improvement with regenerative soil outcomes? (this is part of our focus- a huge part) or are you using them for decoration only? or are you considering the option of meat production? or a blend of all these things?? I think I see myself in the last category. I'm happy to sell my animals to good homes and I find myself happy to be able to provide quality in both meat and animals. I will have some steers to sell and a young bull as well but I am mainly asking for feed back. What are your thoughts?
