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Unusual breed turns some heads

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Published: November 25, 2010

Paddy was the talk of the barn at this year’s Saskatoon Fall Fair, catching the attention of many passing by his stall.

It was the first time in the fair’s 45-year history that a Highland bull was shown.

The eight-month-old bull, owned by 11-year-old Wyatt Millar of Grandora, Sask., spent much of his time at the end of a lineup of six Simmentals that Millar’s family brought to the show.

One was named grand champion Simmental bull and another reserve champion Simmental female.

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“What’s that furry thing,” was often the first question Millar was asked by the curious, followed by, “what kind of breed is that, that’s different, is he going to hurt me?”

Added Millar’s mother, Donna Asher: “It’s more of a novelty thing to just bring him out and show people. Highlands are not a mainstream breed or anything like that. It’s a novelty breed. You do it for fun.”

Interest in the historic Scottish breed was passed down from Asher’s, father, Jim, who emigrated from Scotland in the 1930s.

“He always missed the Highlands,” she said.

The breed, which has one of the oldest herd books in the world, forages on rough terrain in Scotland.

The family decided to raise Highlands after a trip to Scotland last year, during which they saw the Queen’s herd. They bought two Highland cows at a Lloydminster sale, one of them being Paddy’s mother.

Asher said there’s no mainstream interest in breeding the Highlands, but a market is developing at the hobby level.

“Their meat is supposed to be good and tender because they don’t get a lot of back fat,” she said.

“What fat they have goes into marbling, which makes your meat tender.”

Owners of Highland cattle don’t spend a lot of time grooming their animals.

“He’s got so much hair,” Asher said.

“A lot of people have asked, ‘do you clip him,’ and actually no, you’re not supposed to clip him at all. They (Highlands) show in the raw.”

Millar showed Paddy against Limousines in the Interbreed show Nov., 11, where he was third in his class.

“Everybody was taking pictures of Wyatt and Paddy out in the ring,” Asher said.

“We all like to win and everything, but we’re here to have fun, too. I think Paddy has brought that to the barn.”

Highland weight

These average weights apply to cattle that have not had their growth affected by severe climate or restricted diets:

Mature bulls weigh 1,800 pounds in breeding condition

Mature cows weigh 1,100 lb. in breeding condition.

Steers will finish at about 1,000 lb. This weight can be attained with heavy feeding as a long yearling but most breeders prefer to grow their steers on pasture and finish them at two years.

Source: Canadian Highland Cattle Society

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William DeKay

William DeKay

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