Your First Highlands - Steers or Heifers?

Are steers or heifers the best option for your first Highlands?

Definitions:

• Cow = a female which has had 1 calf or more

• Heifer = a young female which has not had a calf

• Bull = an entire (non-castrated) male

• Steer = a castrated male

Highlands tend to be quiet cattle - but did you know that steers are usually quieter than females? Steers are perfect for pets, paddock ornaments, and lawnmowers.

Why choose steers?

• Steers tend to be the quietest option in Highlands - especially with all the time we spend handling before ours are sold!

• Steers have less hormones for you to deal with than heifers do. They won’t go searching for bull to breed with!

  • Breeding age females will have a heat cycle and be in estrus every 21 days or so - from when they reach puberty (at around a year old), for the rest of their life! Heifers might be tempted to jump fences to find a bull and can be temperamental when in heat.

• Steers are usually much more affordable

• Unless you are 100% sure you will be breeding in the near future, then we strongly recommend steer calves over heifers

• Check out Teddie & Archie to see what great pets a pair of steers can be!

Why choose heifers?

• We only recommend heifers if you have certain plans to breed in the future, and:

  • You have (or plan to buy) a bull, or have access to a lease bull

  • Or - you have already found a vet or Artificial Breeding technician in your area that will inseminate your breeding cows, and store the frozen semen straws

• You have the facilities (yards, a vet crush, good fencing), support and expertise to manage the heifer and everything associated with breeding, assist with calving if needed.

Steers, cows and heifers can be kept together in the same paddock, so starting off with steers doesn’t limit you from breeding in the future.

Please get in touch if you would like to register your interest for steers or heifers that will be available soon.