Summer 2015 THE FOLD Official Journal of the Northwest Highland Cattle Association ` Northwest Highland Cattle Association Officers & Directors VICE PRESIDENT/AHCA PRESIDENT SECRETARY/TREASURER REPRESENTATIVE-exp 2018 (Director-exp 2018) (Director-exp 2018) Bob Swalander Dale Hathaway Ian Schleh 4 Dunlap Road 1411 Huntley Road 17198 Dunbar Rd Elma, WA 98541 Bellingham, WA Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 482-4363 (360) 398-7098 360-424-4112 <[email protected]> <[email protected]> <[email protected]> Director-exp 2017 Director exp-2016 Director-exp 2016 Naomi Ewing Mike Green David Larson 12306 Wide Hollow Road 32562 Danville Road PO Box 829 Yakima, WA 98908 Creswell, OR 77249 Husum, WA 98623 (509) 972-8040 (541) 895-3011 541-490-4064 <[email protected]> <[email protected]> <[email protected]> The Fold Page 2 Inside this Issue Northwest Officers and Directors 2 From the Editor's Desk 4 President's Message 5 Artificial Insemination Resources 6 Reprint: Hoof Trimming Resources 9 Thoughts on Highland Cattle Breeding 11 NWHCA Spring Meeting Minutes 14 Highland Cattle Marketplace (Classifieds) 16 The Fold—Official Journal of the Northwest Highland Cattle Association Cover Photo: submitted by Dale Hathaway of Spring Creek Highlands Send ads, articles, photos, and letters to: FOLD EDITOR: Bonnie McLarty 43408 236th Ave. SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022 [email protected] (360) 829-7748 SUBMISSION DEADLINES Winter: January 15, 2015 Spring: April 15, 2015 Summer: July 15, 2015 Fall: October 15, 2015 For ads and dues, make checks payable to NWHCA and send to: SECRETARY/TREASURER: Ian Schleh 17198 Dunbar Rd Mount Vernon, WA 98273 The Fold Page 3 From the Editor's Desk Greetings all! My summer so far has consisted of lots of gardening, work, and of course enjoying the antics of baby calves. I used only AI last year, and have calves from Thorbardin’s Gandolf on the ground. I’m waiting on my last calf, which will be from TBR Koch. Using AI means that I’ve scheduled my tech to come out and sync the cows for breeding next week, and I’m very thankful that my AI tech has done such a good job of getting my cows bred. I’m reposting the following paragraphs from the spring issue, because I really haven’t heard anything from members. If this newsletter is to be useful, I can’t be the sole content generator. Please consider submitting an experience, some questions, photos, whatever you have to share. If each member sends one item in, we’ll have several years’ worth of Fold content, and I guarantee it will be a lot more interesting than if I write everything by myself! Recently I’ve had some discussions with various NHWCA members about membership benefits. I’m curious to know what others think: What benefits does NWHCA membership offer you? For myself, having an online presence (contact information and farm profile) on a site that also has Highland Cattle information and resources is valuable, as is the unlimited advertising. For $35/year, that seems like a good deal if you have livestock or beef to market. For others, the fellowship and networking opportunities are what makes membership worth it. And what about the Fold? What do you like about it? What would you like to see in it? Speaking of the Fold, somehow I got myself elected webmaster and Fold editor. If I can do both these jobs, surely you all can contribute! The magazine is only as good as its content. Please send in any anecdotes or information you would like to share. A few specific requests: Photos/plans/dimensions for Highland chutes/handling facilities Photos of your cattle Any description or discussion of how you keep/manage/use data in your breeding program -Bonnie McLarty The Fold Page 4 President's Message I’ve been elected once again to serve as your NWHCA president for 2015/16. Part of my duties included with this responsibility is to write a paragraph or two for the Fold having to do with upcoming issues, words of wisdom, etc. in regards to the Highland cattle world in the Northwest. One of the “hottest” (sorry) topics this spring is the weather. Hot and dry. Seems like we’re a month or so ahead of our normal NW weather. One of my haylage providers called me in May and said he had my first cutting available. First time that’s ever happened. For those of you that don’t have the equipment to irrigate your pastures it could be an early beginning to our fall/winter feeding season. I see dried up lawns and pastures beginning to brown up here in Whatcom County already. That normally happens in August. The annual NWHCA spring meeting was hosted by Ralph and Sharon Dobson of Arlington, WA. I’d like to thank Ralph and Sharon again for their hospitality and the effort that was required to put together a great and informative day. Among the many discussions and presentations that took place, in particular, was the “lower attendance numbers” that we’ve seen for the last couple of yearly meetings and how we can improve. During the Director’s meeting one of the Directors suggested that we reach out to each of our members. We would divide the NW district into five regions. Each of the Directors would be responsible for a particular region. They should contact each breeder by phone, Email, farm visit or whichever way works. We are seeking feedback that we can use to better the organization. We will ask questions such as: - Are you frustrated with the direction the Association is headed? - Do you wish the association would focus more on a particular issue? - Do you think the Association’s focus is too much on showing our Highlands rather than other things such as beef issues? For example, feedback we've received from a couple of breeders in Oregon that aren't interested in the show circuit but are big into raising, promoting and selling Highland beef. They both would like to see a co-op formed of Association members that raise Highlands for the beef market. This may allow the members to provide the volume of beef required to enter the 'restaurant market'. The average Highland breeder now-a-days does not The Fold Page 5 produce the volume of beef to keep a restaurant continuously supplied. But a 'group' of breeders may allow them to do that. - Would you like to get involved in the Association business but are not sure how to do that? - Do you seek advice or information but are unsure which direction to go to receive it? If you haven’t been contacted already, you should be soon. And for our Facebook junkies there are two Facebook pages. One is “Highland Cattle Breeders Group”, which consists of hundreds of Highland enthusiasts from all over the world. Lots of stories regarding and pictures of Highlands are posted by the proud owners. There’s also quite a bit of information which can be gained when someone asks a question or passes on an experience. I think it’s a great tool. The other page is specific to the Northwest, the “Northwest Highland Cattle Association” group. And finally, we’re quickly approaching the show season. If you’re unable to participate directly, make sure you get out to one the local fairs and support the breeders or lend a hand. Believe me, there’s lots of work to go around. Enjoy your summer and be safe. -Dale Hathaway The Fold Page 6 Artificial Insemination Resources By Bonnie McLarty, Blueberry Meadows Highlands Artificial insemination has several benefits. For the small Hawkeye Breeders (Iowa) quoted me a price of $112 producer, it is cheaper to pay a tech than to keep a bull for shipping. Hawkeye Breeders has a quite a few year-round. It is also an easy way to introduce new different Highland Cattle breeders that store semen with genetics into your herd. You can use bulls from around them, including a few of Autumn Mist Farm’s bulls and the country and even from other countries, including semen from Angus Mackay’s imported Scottish bull. Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The internet has made locating sources for AI straws easier than it has ever been. The trickiest part of I’ve listed “Pros” and “Cons” to ordering from each of these breeders. The “Pros” are what I think makes each ordering straws is you are purchasing sight-unseen. The visual evidence is limited to one or two small photos of of these breeders a smart choice to order from. The the bull and/or his progeny, and you end up relying on “Cons” are not bad, but are simply things to consider, as each of you will have different priorities, different the word of the breeder coupled with what you know of animals, and different reasons for using AI in your the animals in the bull’s pedigree. program. While most people in this breed are good, honest folks, they may not prioritize the same traits that you do or may see their bull through rose-tinted glasses. In the Breeders absence of breed EBD’s, the breeder’s reputation for I have purchased straws from Pat White of LEA-White consistent quality animals over the years counts for a lot. Farms, and I’ll likely buy from her again. The other thing which can be hard to find but is really Pros: Pat has semen from eight different bulls currently valuable is any hard data (weights, frame/udder scores, available, so she can compare them for you and will tell etc.).