highland cattle,

gtst

anyone know if there is a market for highland cattle in ireland, thinking of buying a few for poor ground, any highland breeders on here.

Future Farmer

gtst wrote: »

anyone know if there is a market for highland cattle in ireland, thinking of buying a few for poor ground, any highland breeders on here.

Not a big market, would you not be as well off getting Angus' or that?

ganmo

Future Farmer wrote: »

Not a big market, would you not be as well off getting Angus' or that?

There's a growing market for dexters and belted Galloway

Future Farmer

ganmo wrote: »

There's a growing market for dexters and belted Galloway

half of nothing is still nothing

patsy_mccabe

A good few for sale on Donedeal.

gtst

Future Farmer wrote: »

Not a big market, would you not be as well off getting Angus' or that?

I have limousin,salers and hereford already. But with these winters getting worse there giving most of the year inside

gtst

ganmo wrote: »

There's a growing market for dexters and belted Galloway

Wudnt have any interest in dexters are Galloways any good out in bad weather

djmc

When you say poor ground what's growing on it is it bog and Heather or green ground.
Highland Galloway dexters Irish maoil ,dromain would all be suitable for rough grazing on mountain and Heather and can be left out all year but will still need some feeding in the winter hay or silage or ration.
I would put breeds like Angus Kerry Shorthorn Hereford as the next hardiest breeds.
I wouldn't rule out dexters too quickly either they are small but hardy and will eat less than bigger cows and have more valuable meat.
If it's just to graze rough ground some equine are suitable too and easier kept than cattle.
I left Kerry bog ponies out on rough ground over winter and they cost next to nothing to keep and are in great condition after the winter eating Heather and rushes and dead grass .
Other moorland breeds like Dartmoor exmoor and Welsh mountain ponies are very Hardy aswell a lot more so than the conameara pony or donkey's only problem is that they get overweight on good green grass that they prefer.
All count as a livestock unit the same as a cow.

gtst

djmc wrote: »

When you say poor ground what's growing on it is it bog and Heather or green ground.
Highland Galloway dexters Irish maoil ,dromain would all be suitable for rough grazing on mountain and Heather and can be left out all year but will still need some feeding in the winter hay or silage or ration.
I would put breeds like Angus Kerry Shorthorn Hereford as the next hardiest breeds.
I wouldn't rule out dexters too quickly either they are small but hardy and will eat less than bigger cows and have more valuable meat.
If it's just to graze rough ground some equine are suitable too and easier kept than cattle.
I left Kerry bog ponies out on rough ground over winter and they cost next to nothing to keep and are in great condition after the winter eating Heather and rushes and dead grass .
Other moorland breeds like Dartmoor exmoor and Welsh mountain ponies are very Hardy aswell a lot more so than the conameara pony or donkey's only problem is that they get overweight on good green grass that they prefer.
All count as a livestock unit the same as a cow.

Ya mostly bog and Heather 70 acres and 15 acres of grass. Iv taken a liking to the highland breed for some reason but if there's no market for them I'd only be wasting my time. Wat would the average dexter or dromain weanling make or who would be there main buyers

Miname

gtst wrote: »

Ya mostly bog and Heather 70 acres and 15 acres of grass. Iv taken a liking to the highland breed for some reason but if there's no market for them I'd only be wasting my time. Wat would the average dexter or domain weanling make or who would be there main buyers

Go with Galloway. I was with a very good operator who rain a savage show who had tried various traditional breeds instead of his usual orange ch. showed me 50 or 60 gallo ways and kill out receipts for comrades and I was extremely surprised and impressed. Very thick low set animals. Dexters are only rats and most butchers get charged per animal to be killed so want a decent amount of meat for their kill. Highland are are just a slightly better Dexter with more hair.

djmc

The droimeann is a bit like the Shorthorn would be an old Irish breed and I think they are polled the same as Galloway so no need for dehorning.
I'd think they would sell at the Mart like regular cattle
Dexters and highland are smaller and might not have as much interest at local Mart
They would probably do better in private sales through done deal or specialist sales to lads looking for their meat.
I don't have any contacts but a search for Dexter or organic meat will show up some contacts and co ops that are selling there meat.
I know they pay more per kg for their meat than regular cattle.