I will start by stating the obvious. If you are in the business of breeding quality, pedigree Highland cattle then you must obtain a pedigree Highland bull for the creation of all that new bovine life.
This time last year we had two bulls on the croft: a rising two-year old Lachie Geal of Romesdal whom we bred ourselves as the name indicates and a Whitebred Shorthorn bull. Lachie was duly sold in the summer of last year to a breeder from the Isle of Lewis and the Shorthorn was sold at Portree in the last sale of the year on the advice of the local vet, who reckoned the bull was turning arthritic. Such is life, as we only had him for one season.
So how does the crofter, far from markets and the wrong side of the Oban pedigree sales go about buying a bull? Over the internet, of course. I suppose that some reading this will automatically assume E-bay and it would be great to say yes. However, the more sensible option seemed to be the Highland Cattle Society's cattle wanted and for sale page. And it was there that we came across Iain Siolach of Shenavallie, which is a fine name for a very fine, well bred, Highland bull.
A brief exchange of emails with the Shenavallie breeder followed and the deal was done. The day after the cows finally crossed the road the bull was delivered and we have lived happily ever after, excepting our neighbours who have to endure the bull bellowing at cattle near and far at all hours of the day.
