Are Highland Cows Worth The Cost To Raise?

[@ocean12]

A HUGE benefit to having your own animals is that you know what they are eating, so you know what you are eating. Plus you are not dependant on outside forces to survive. Great job! Do you milk your cows? If yes, how is the milk? If not, why dont you?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

So true! We don't milk them at this time since we don't have a barn, stall or place to tie them to while milking.

[@theadventuresofzoomandbettie]

They are so bloody cute! I've actually never seen a video with them in the snow! If we ever got cows, these would 100% be the ones!!!

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Oh wow, thanks so much!

[@AlpinePreparedness]

Love those little faces!

[@ThorHavenFarm]

So cute!

[@AlpinePreparedness]

@@ThorHavenFarm right !

[@user-er4xo2zl4r]

Im Scottish, they make some good eating. As dies the other well known Scottish breed Aberdeen Angus. Far better than Wagyu

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I would really love to have just a few of those Highlands. Nice & shaggy. We have the space too just need to shore up the fence and buy the cows. Hopefully one day, but we have other priorities first. Highlands are definitely on my list. Thnx for the breakdown Darren.

[@ThorHavenFarm]

So many things to do, and get for a homestead, you have to have priorities!

[@DelphinesHandcrafted]

I love the look of those cattle! I enjoyed this just for that. I will never have any, but gorgeous!

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Thanks so much for the kind words!!

[@philipchabot6064]

Great job.

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Thanks!

[@ladycaska2104]

Thanks for explaining this! I'm going to make my hubby watch this 🤣

[@ThorHavenFarm]

LOL Awesome!

[@HickorycroftFarm]

Excellent video! You know how we like looking at the numbers lol. Honestly the return on the investment is not to far off what we figure for most hoofed livestock big or small it usually takes at least 5-10 years to really see that return (of course there is much more value than just the dollars and cents). We found that when we had the goats, and we find it with the sheep (and the projections we did on the Kunekune's and our cows were similar). Another big saving is that you processed your bull this year yourselves, that's a huge savings vs taking it somewhere to get it processed! The numbers are important but the bigger thing is finding a balance of what you want to do, what your comfortable with and what you can make work financially to keep it going (pretty much applies to all livestock really).

[@ThorHavenFarm]

After seeing a number of your videos on the numbers, we decided to take a closer look at ours!! LOL

[@FourSonsOffGridHomestead]

Great video! I am hoping to get highlands in the next few years. Nice to see we have similar land profiles and seasons.

[@ThorHavenFarm]

That's great!!!

[@Tinachimneycreekfarm]

They are gorgeous cows but those horns are huge! Do you ever have any trouble with their horns causing injury? We desperately need a tractor!

[@RemsFamily]

Very interesting! I doubt I will ever have the space for some but it is certainly a very interesting animal. Maybe someday I'll get to taste some meat 🙄🙄🙄 lol

[@ThorHavenFarm]

I think there is a very good chance of that happening! LOL

[@RemsFamily]

@@ThorHavenFarm awesome lol

[@BigChap]

What does a Highland Hide go for? I'm sure it's not in my price range but I've always wanted one!!!

[@ThorHavenFarm]

I not sure off hand, maybe $500-700 depending on the size.

[@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm]

Hey y'all, So all the fencing, buildings vets costs feed water ect will cost the same because you have to buy it all no matter what kind of cattle you have. Obviously the different breeds can bring and cost different prices according the the auctions of the day. My mind always goes to how many of anything do I need to get and sell so 1 is mine and the end and did not cost me anything. "Ya know like the Johnny Cash Cadillac"

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Very true!!!

[@kenman200]

Very cool 😎

[@s.coloradosteader8097]

I wish I could have highlands, I'm sure our hot summers we get wouldn't be good for them. We raised our first beef last year, was able to pick up on the cheap when culling was going on. I've got good pasture so that was a help with expenses. Started to make our pond bigger this week. So glad Spring is at our door. Have both cows given birth, or just the one?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Oh that's great!! Yes, just our one has given birth so far. Our other needs to get pregnant.

[@jenniferbunker2757]

At what age are they able to breed? How much meat do you get each year? How long until they are at butcher weight? How many do you sell a year ?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Usually around two years old is when the ideal time is for breeding and for harvesting. Usually we get around 275lbs of boneless meat. Doesn't sound like much, but when you remove all the bones, you remove a lot of weight. At this point we haven't had enough born to sell any just yet.

[@AlpinePreparedness]

My immediate answer is yes … lol

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Hahaha yup!

[@AlpinePreparedness]

@@ThorHavenFarm 🤣🤣

[@goodtimberfarm]

You mentioned your shelter is made out of pine, how did you attach it to the ground? If it’s just pine against the ground, how is it fairing against rot so far?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Yes, just pine posts we made from the trees. They are sunk into the ground about 4'. The nice thing is, we are on sand, so they should be good for a few years at least. We wanted something quick and easy and if we have to rebuild it, not a problem.

[@ladycaska2104]

I just have one question... and I may be able to find out if I go watch all of your videos... but how many acres have you alloted to just your highlands?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

They have about 3 acres

[@StairsHomestead]

I was also wondering the same thing. Do you happen to supply hay year round or do you rotate them to other grazing acreage or throughout the 3 acres they have available. And lastly, at what age do you prefer to send them to market? I’ve read most prefer to send them at 1.5-3 years. I’m curious on your view.

[@johnromeo2578]

Do you have to keep the bull separated from the heifers and the babies

[@rakeshgudla7605]

why don't u install a "Cow Scratching Post for Cattle in Enclosures" so that cute cows will be more happy

[@DebraWomack]

Yeah, a lot of math... But it is quite enlightening!

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Great to hear!

[@oxford821]

Hello, are your Highland pure and registered? I’ve been seeing videos where people say to be careful about the cross breeding in this breed. Can they be raised on strictly pasture grazing? I’m starting on fencing and shopping for a type of livestock that can handle living in Northern PA.

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Yes, ours are registered. You can cross them with angus and other breeds but for harvesting the young, rather than to raise up. Yes, no problem just having them on pasture. They would do well in your area.

[@MiscMitz]

Over all, about what I expected. Now to convince the fam... The girls won't eat anything they've looked into the eyes of... 😥

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Understandable!

[@suziespiescorealtor]

Hi! At what age do you harvest? Or weight?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

We aim for around 2yrs old

[@northumberlandacres]

CHICKEN MATH! ❤

[@ThorHavenFarm]

Exactly!! LOL

[@grahamlait1969]

The answer to the question posed in the title of the video is a resounding 'NO'.... not least because Highland cattle are slow to mature. Most breeds of beef cattle are ready for slaughter at about two years old. Highland cattle take at least thirty months. This adds 25% to the feed and care costs of raising the animal to slaughter. Moreover, the beef, although it is low in cholesterol and thus relatively healthy, is not of as good quality (ie, not as tasty) as, for instance, Aberdeen Angus. Further, as a relatively small breed of cattle, there isn't so much edible beef on the carcase in the first place.... and their milk is, to all intents and purposes, worthless. Their real value is that they are hardy, easy to handle, can be raised outdoors on marginal land and require less care than other breeds... or, at least, that's the rational reasoning behind keeping them. The truth is that we keep them because they're lovely.

[@eleazartapia5237]

Where did you get those caws from ? I am looking to buy some just cause of the good meet , can you have me a number to call and try buying some

[@ThorHavenFarm]

We got these ones close to Trois River in Quebec Canada

[@littlehomesteadbythebeach]

So, why not just inseminations again? Because I think if you get a bull, it would be a permanent one, right? With all the feed and wire cost that come with it?

[@ThorHavenFarm]

So true! We want to make sure the girls are ok with the new "Crush" If we can use that, then we will just inseminate.