He also is very interested in conservation of natural resources and has overseen the development of several wetlands on our properties. Larry is the farm manager and does a superb job of putting up high quality forage in adequate amounts to feed our expanded cattle operation. This is a very important aspect of the breed's desirability and maintaining those characteristics that contribute to this beauty is an important part of our breeding program. There is no bovine that is more dramatic than an outstanding specimen of this particular breed. As a result, we do place considerable value of the appearance of the animal. ![]() Despite a desire to judge our cattle strictly on performance, the natural beauty of the Highland breed was something that attracted us to them in the first place. We look at feet and legs, udder conformation, disposition and general appearance. With that in mind we have chosen our bulls with care, aiming to improve those traits that will contribute to the value of their daughters working in the herd. Our goal has always been to produce top quality brood cows that will go on to produce outstanding calves for their owners. Such Highland owners then become little more than animal collectors, rather than conservators of a unique and rare breed. Its lineage is lost, its link to the past is lost and in most cases, cannot be reestablished. If the animals are not registered, and those papers are not transferred to a new owner, that animal is effectively lost to the breed gene pool it is no more than a grade or commercial beef animal. We are certainly in this as a business, and we do profit from the sale of our cattle, but paramount to the operation is the “careful selection of breeding stock” and subsequent registration of those animals with the American Highland Cattle Association (or other Highland breed registry). This might be as a farmer or a hobbyist, and can be practiced on a large or small scale, for food, fun, or profit.” This is where LEA-White Farms differs from many keepers and sellers of Highland cattle. The definition of “breeder” is paramount, and Wikipedia summed it up this way “ a breeder is a person who practices the vocation of mating carefully selected specimens of the same breed to reproduce specific, consistently replicable qualities and characteristics. We both do everything in our power to educate buyers about necessary care for the cattle, and the farming techniques to aid in that goal. With that kind of history, we are a pretty good library of information on farming and husbandry of Highland cattle. Pat’s love is the cattle, which is understandable with her veterinary background, and Larry’s love is the land, as a retired environmental liaison for the Michigan Department of Transportation. We are both intimately involved with the day to day care of the cattle. ![]() ![]() We grow our hay, we cut and bale our hay, and we feed our hay. We have always worked the farm ourselves the only help being occasional students to help with haying or when I need help showing the cattle. While Larry has been retired from his “day” job since 1997, he went from being a full-time employed worker with a farm to being a full time farmer. We are also members of the Canadian Highland Cattle Society and participate in as many of their activities as our schedule allows, which means we might get to the AGM every other year or so. Joseph County Grange Fair about 1987 or 1988. We have been members of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy since about the same time, (we joined when it was called The American Minor Breeds Conservancy) and we (or should I say, one of our animals) participated in the first Rare Breed displays hosted by The ALBC at the St. Pat and Larry have both served as members of the Board of Directors, and Pat writes articles for the quarterly magazine, The Bagpipe, virtually every issue usually related to Highland cattle health, but occasionally opinion pieces as well. We joined the American Highland Cattle Association when we bought our first 2 heifers in 1983, and have been active members ever since. We have over 30 years of experience raising registered Highland cattle. What sets us apart from others selling Highland cattle?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |