Our Herd

We've rebranded! Formerly known as Shuswap Highland Ranch

Purebred Registered Highland Cattle

A Highland cow standing in tall grass in a sunny field.

Healthy Herd, Soil, and Community

Premium Pasture-Raised Beef Grain or Grass Finished

Purebred Registered Highland Breeding Stock

We are actively working on developing a management program that works best for us, our cattle, and our land - with a strong emphasis on robust herd genetics and pasture soil regeneration.

The relationship between cattle, soil, and people is undeniable, and when well-managed can make a world of difference.

Through rotational grazing, addition of soil biology, and selective seeding, we can make a measurable positive impact on the soil fertility, biodiversity, and moisture retention in our pastures. Complete and active soil biology means vigorous dependable forage, healthy cattle and quality nutritious beef.

WHY HIGHLAND?

Three fluffy Highland calves with shaggy fur standing outdoors.

Purebred Registered Highland Breeding Stock

Premium Pasture-Raised Beef Grain or Grass Finished

Purebred Registered Highland Breeding Stock

We breed from mid August to mid October over the fall equinox each year, with a calving season of late May to late July on fresh pasture grass. We carry our cow-calf pairs through the winter, and wean in the spring by mid April.

Heifer calves are posted for sale during the winter, and become available for pickup after weaning in April.

We are proud members of the Canadian Highland Cattle Society, and register all of our purebred breeding stock with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation.

Genetic health is non-negotiable in our breeding program.

Our breeding goals

Highland cow resting in a sunlit forest clearing.

Premium Pasture-Raised Beef Grain or Grass Finished

Our cattle are raised on pasture year-round.

During the spring, summer, and fall they graze on the fresh growth of grass and legumes using an intensively managed rotational grazing program.

During the winter, they are fed our homegrown hay and silage out on pasture.

Our beef is grain-finished with locally produced certified organic beef finisher, or optionally grass-finished on pasture if reserved ahead.

Liquid molasses mineral and protein supplement is provided free-choice all year to ensure a well-balanced nutrition.

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Breed Characteristics

Highland cattle is an ancient breed from the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland, with an archealogical history dating back over 1500 years to the 6th century, and written recorded history dating back to the 12th century. It is the oldest pedigree breed of cattle in the world, and was of the first breeds of cattle to ever be registered. Through great effort by breeders and registries to preserve the ancient breed, the original characteristics of purebred Highland Cattle have remained nearly unchanged over several centuries.

It is not difficult to understand why Highland characteristics have been highly valued and protected for centuries:

1. EXCEPTIONALLY HARDY: Purebred Highland Cattle today retain the characteristics that made them remarkably successful in the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic gales. While this breed is incredibly adaptable, poor mountain grazing land with cold temperatures, bitter winds, and little to no shelter is where this breed truly excels. Their long coats serve to protect them from the bitterly cold and wet conditions of the winter, while also shedding down to a much shorter coat during the warm weather of the summer. Their horns allow them to dig through early snowfalls and access forage, helping to extend the grazing season further into the winter. They convert poor forage very efficiently, making the most of everything available for them to graze in a rugged upland environment.

2. LONGEVITY: Highland Cattle have noteably long average lifespans, with many Highland cows breeding past 18 years of age and having borne 15 calves. While they are slower to mature by about 6 months to a year past other commercial beef breeds, the typical longevity and hardiness of a Highland breeding cow brings immense long-term value to the herd.

3. PREMIUM NUTRITIOUS BEEF: Grass-fed, pasture-raised Highland cattle produce very high quality, healthy beef that is:

Higher than other commercial beef breeds in protein, iron, omega-3, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), vitamin A and E;
Lower than other commercial beef breeds in cholesterol, overall fat, and omega 6
An excellent source of zinc, phosphorous, selenium, B12, B3, and B6
Well marbled, tender and flavourful

4. TYPICALLY EVEN TEMPERED: Highland cattle are smaller than other commercial beef breeds and are known for being quite docile and calm as compared to most others. They are, however, still a horned beef breed, and when the moment demands they have plenty of grit. Cows from our own herd have been witnessed charging a mountain lion.

5. DEPENDABLE MOTHERS: Calf health is crucial to any herd. Highland cows are known to calf easily out on pasture, being unassisted more than 90% of the time, with great maternal instincts. They produce high fat milk for their calves even when on upland terrain with poor forage. We, however, choose to pair those qualities with a late spring early summer calving season in fresh pasture grass, to provide our cows with quality forage when they could best use it.

Our Mission: Robust Genetics

Purebred, Diverse Pedigree

The unique characteristics of the Highland breed and the reliability of those genetics are important to us. We therefore raise a purebred herd, are members of the Canadian Highland Cattle Society, and register all of our breeding stock with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation. Additions to our herd are made with pedigree diversity at the forefront of our minds, to ensure that all calves born on our farm are a healthy addition to the herd book.

Refining for Cow Success and Calf Health

Our program seeks to ensure that all of our cows breed successfully within a 60 day period around the fall equinox. Our cows should calf with relative ease, bond quickly with their calves, and raise a healthy well-gaining calf.

Refining for Beef Gain

Timely beef gain is secondary to calving ease, and yet is critical to the success of any beef herd. We seek to build a herd that reliably produces calves that are well fed by their dams, naturally gain well, and in which steer reach appropriate finish weight on-time.

Honesty in Livestock Sales

As a first generation farm with a young herd of Highlands, refining and building our herd genetics with all of the above priorities in mind will take time. We are dedicated to providing 100% honesty in the pedigree and history of our sale-ready breeding stock.

What We Don't Do

We are struck by the incredible beauty of the Highland breed on a daily basis. It is most certainly worthy of admiration and the attention it has drawn throughout the world. But as a breeder, we care far more about their genetic health and vigour. We therefore do not breed - or price - our Highlands based on colour.

Calves that have tested positive for genetic conditions that would likely compromise their health or the health of their progeny - such as Chondroplasia (dwarfism) and Myostatin NT821 (double muscling) - are automatically disqualified from our breeding or sale program, and are moved into our beef program. We, therefore, do not sell or participate in the breeding of "mini" (dwarf) Highlands.