We will reply as soon as possible. Sometimes it takes us a few weeks to get around to answering everyone.īe sure to check out COWMATCH. We will try to help you find the right animals for your farm. Please fill out this form and let us know a little more about you, and what you're looking for. If you have more questions about 'mini highlands' let me know and I will send you more information. It's a marketing scheme to sell stunted runts or cross bred animals as 'miniatures'. It is false information being shared on social media. If you are looking for 'mini highlands', they do not actually exist. You need at least one acre per cow, so two acres minimum of pasture for these animals. The prices will change if operating costs (fuel, fencing. Keep in mind, you need 2 cows minimum.They are herd animals and need their own species as a companion. We are currently charging 1,000 for a 6-month old weanling heifer + 90 per month of age after that. They don't do well in hot humid areas, and they need lots of shade. Keep in mind this breed of cattle isn't suited for everyone, or for every climate. Highlands have so much to offer as a hardy beef breed, why on earth would you bastardize a grand old breed to produce substandard animals? If you want a Highland, even if just for a pet – please buy a well bred one from someone who has the breed’s best interest at heart.We get lots of messages from people looking for recommendations on where to purchase highland cattle. I think (I hope) the problem is, most of these “breeders” do not have cattle experience and are just jumping on a bandwagon. A 'mini' Highland cow will still have regular Highland size genetics - and will have a normal sized calf, greatly increasing the risk of dystocia. Not only do you risk passing on poor qualities, you risk endangering the cow and future calves. Breeding animals that carry the chondro gene increases the risk of bulldog calves (a lethal genetic defect).įor any reason, other than being crossbred, it is irresponsible to pass on those genetics.

Many so-called miniature Highlands are the result of a Highland being crossed with a chondro Dexter. These pages advertise cattle for sale that are owned by members of the New Zealand Highland Cattle Society. Crossbreeding is fine, as long as it is not being marketed as a purebred - and the sire & dam do not carry the chondrodysplasia (dwarf) gene. Maybe the animal is not a purebred Highland, rather crossed with another breed - often Dexter. I've heard of a few cases of people buying a very young calf as a miniature, with no instruction to feed milk replacer - and the calf is dead in a week. Some misrepresent the age of the animal, claiming it is older than it actually is, so it seems small. Expect 140-160 lbs per quarter with the final product weight being about 60. Some so-called “breeders” pull healthy calves off of healthy dams and feed the calves just enough to survive. Beef is sold by the quarter, half or whole steer priced at 5.00/lb hanging weight. Maybe the breeder deliberately withheld nutrition to stunt it. Maybe the breeding combination just didn’t work - not every pairing clicks. Maybe it has something congenital going on – bad heart, for example.

Maybe the dam is older and her milk production/quality is declining. Maybe it is a case of placental insufficiency. There are many reasons for an animal to be on the small side. Most often these are stunted, poor examples of the breed. Rising popularity of Highlands has brought out people trying to market smaller animals as “mini” Highlands, commanding high dollars for “pets”. Bulls generally range from 1700-2000 lbs.

Adult Highland cows will average 1100-1400 lbs. There is no such thing as a miniature Highland, and certainly not a microminiature one. We have prepared a sample for you:Ĭonsidering Highland cattle? If you are weighing the pros and cons of registered cattle, the following article by Pat White has valuable information to consider in making your decision. If a purebred animal is to be sold without papers, it must be done so in writing – otherwise it is a contravention of both the CHCS Bylaws and the Animal Pedigree Act.Īlso, if you are selling livestock, please ensure you provide a proper bill of sale. And must due so within 6 months of the sale at the seller’s expense. Similarly, only the registered owner of an animal can transfer registration papers to a buyer. Only the owner or lessee of the dam at birth can register an animal - a buyer cannot, under any circumstances. A full description of requirements can be found in our Bylaws (Sections 17 & 18) here: Please note that there are specific rules that must be followed when registering and transferring Highland cattle in Canada. BUYING & SELLING REGISTERED HIGHLAND CATTLE IN CANADA

Highland cow prices