Breeding Highland Cattle for profit
The Highland Cattle Society is committed to helping you promote and publicise the breed as a serious commercial suckled beef producer. Much of our advertising, promotion and publicity expenditure is aimed at commercial production, and attracting prospective producers who are focused on making a profit.
Helping you to create a profitable commercial enterprise
As you know, every business needs to manage its fixed and variable costs, and maximise its income.
Highland Cattle are so versatile they can suit any farming system, which is why they are a good choice for prospective beef producers. The forage and land type available will certainly play a part in housing and input needs, but these can be closely monitored and the animals fed to produce a well-fleshed finished carcass.
Highland Cattle can winter outside which can reduce labour and housing costs, and minimise disease. Their easy calving and strong maternal traits can lower vet’s bills, and they can convert rough pasture and finish off grass, helping to reduce the amount spent on feed. While their longevity means they can produce calves late into their teens reducing the cost of replacement too. What’s more, growth rates can be increased with careful cross breeding.
You also have the opportunity to develop further income streams, including renting out animals as conservation grazers, or working with conservation and wildlife bodies to gain access to free grazing.
The high butter fat content of their milk means that calves grow quickly, and this can also be used to help make high quality ice cream. In addition, their docility and traditional good looks provide opportunities for photo shoots, demonstrating once again the versatility of these amazing animals.
Beef from Highland cattle
Highland Cattle produce premium, healthy, tasty, completely traceable meat. Therefore, the key to maximising your income is to make sure that your beef is promoted as a premium product at a premium price – and isn’t sold where it’s competing against cheaper, lower quality beef in a volume commodity market.
This is why many breeders sell at the farm gate, in farmers’ markets or in their own farm shop at high end retail prices. Another good outlet for your premium beef is specialist butchers who focus on native breeds, as well as high-end restaurants whose chefs who are looking to source the best quality beef.
For those animals sold to finishers or as stores, removing the horns will increase the market price. Certainly, there are finishers who specialise in native breeds and buy stores at premium prices. With low costs and a premium product, these are highly versatile cattle that can suit any system.
To find out more, take a look at some of our case studies.
Here’s where you can buy Highland beef in the UK today.
