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Several
frequently asked questions
with abbreviated answers are shown below.
Other good sources for information on Highlands,
including Rules and Regulations, can be found at the AHCA
web site at www.highlandcattleusa.orgor by contacting the AHCA office in Denver, CO (303)
292-9102.
Their e-mail is ahca@envisionnet.net.
What to look for when buying registered Highland cattleAlways
ask to see registration
papers. If
the animal you are purchasing is not yet registered, (maybe
it is too young) ask to see the parents' papers. Ask
the seller to register the animal as a condition of sale.
A non-registered animal, except for a young calf, is
very difficult, and often impossible, to register at a later
date. If
possible look at the dam and sire, they are the best
gauge as to what your animal will look like when it grows
up. If the
parents are not available, ask for photos. Check
the parents’ pedigrees for close in-breeding or line
breeding such as father to daughter or brother to sister.
Only a few very knowledgeable breeders have the
skills to do this successfully.
Line breeding has the potential to enhance the better
qualities but also enhance the poorer qualities of the
animals. Most
breeders discourage line breeding.
Conformation
of an animal is very hard to check for if you are a new
breeder. Basically,
the animal should look like a Highland, have good legs and
feet placed squarely under the body, walk without
difficulty, and appear to be healthy. If you don’t know
the sellers very well and if you would feel more comfortable
with a second opinion, feel free to call a fellow breeder
and ask for their opinion.
Most sellers won’t mind and most breeders will be
happy to help out. Another option is to check the AHCA
sources shown at the top of the FAQ section for conformation
characteristics desirable in Highlands.
If
the seller claims the animal is halter broke, ask for
a demonstration if this is an important consideration for
you. This will also give you a peek at the disposition of
the animal. Keep
in mind that the animal may be a little rusty on halter
behavior if it has not been haltered for a period of time.
Some
states require animals, either born in the state or
transferred into the state, to be Brucellosis vaccinated.
This must be done, on females only, usually prior to
the age of 10 months. The
Brucellosis tag is metal and usually easily seen at the top
of the ear. If
no tag is visible and may have pulled out, look in the ear
(usually right ear) for a Brucellosis tattoo. Check with
your veterinarian for the requirements in your state.
If
you will be transporting your new purchases over
state lines make sure you check with your local veterinarian
or the State Board of Animal Health before loading them into
the trailer. A
bill of sale may be required to prove you are the new owner.
In some states a health certificate from the vet
stating the animals’ identity and status of good health is
all that is necessary.
Other states may require blood tests, permits, and
other paperwork that will require additional time to
prepare. While this may all seem a little scary to a new breeder, it is not as complicated as it appears. A reliable Highland breeder likely knows what is needed to register, transfer, and transport your animal to its new home. Most breeders will be very willing to help make this an enjoyable experience. What do Highlands need to eat and drink?Highlands
have a reputation for being easy keepers and not fussy about
what they eat. They
are excellent browsers and do well in borderline quality
pastures. They also do an excellent job of cleaning up a
brushy area and will eat leaves off brush and trees as high
as they can reach. They will straddle a young tree, push it
down, and eat the leaves. They will eat the blossoms off
some thistles. However,
they do need food. They
may survive on pastures that are primarily weeds, but they
will not do well. They
may eat some very poor quality hay or even straw in the
winter, but they will not do well. They grow slower than many popular breeds
but generally eat less Here
in Minnesota and Wisconsin we are occasionally asked if
Highlands can live on snow as their water source in the
winter. The
answer is not very well and we strongly discourage the idea. Animals need a source of clean water,
although they may well drink out of a dirty ditch or rut in
the pasture rather than walk 100 feet to get to clean water.
That’s why we give them their shots to fight off
the diseases they may get from such poor habits.
How big do they get?Mature
bulls weigh about 1600-1800 pounds in breeding condition. Mature cows weigh about 1100 pounds in
breeding condition although young cows may weigh less.
Older cows weighing 1200 and 1300 pounds and older
bulls weighing about 2000 pounds are not unusual.
Good quality steers can be finished at 1000+ lbs in
20-24 months if they have access to good food. Do Highlands need a health program?Most breeders believe in a program to keep their animals healthy even though Highlands have a natural resistance to many diseases. However, some breeders do not believe in giving their animals immunizations, etc for their own particular reasons. Discuss the pros and cons with your veterinarian. Registration
of Highland Cattle
The
main thing to remember when registering Highland cattle is
that the person doing the registration of the animal MUST be
the original owner of the animal and must be a member of
AHCA. The original owner of the animal is defined as the
owner of the dam at the time she calved.
Most
problems when registering cattle would be solved if all
animals were registered prior to being one year of age, and
most important, prior to being sold or purchased. First
of all, the cost to register any animal over 12 months is
double the regular fee.
Any animal over 24 months of age must prove pedigree
with a DNA test, and if the sire and dam are not available
it is not possible to register the older animal.
If
you have purchased a non-registered animal and are unable to
contact or find the original owner that animal also cannot
be registered. If
you find the original owner and they are not members of AHCA
they must rejoin for the animal to be registered.
Please
remember, if you plan on registering an animal, do it early,
prior to 12 months of age, and DO NOT purchase an animal
that is not registered if you have any plans to register it
at a later date. HAVE
THE REGISTRATION DONE BEFORE PURCHASE. Registration
and Transfer Forms
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