The Kintyre story will probably reflect that of many other Highland Cattle breeders in that what started off as a curiosity turned quickly into a passion for these amazing animals.
Originally from Germany, I left for the U.K. straight after Medical School and settled in the North East of England for 15 years working as a Doctor in Hospitals and local General practices . We lived on a 2 acre block and I tried everything to be self-sufficient: We had goats for milk, pigs, free range chickens, bred guinea pigs and rabbits for the pet shop market, grew vegetables – it was a lot of fun, a lot of work and quite a bit of money put into managing this little farm let.
Then last year 2006 I took my four boys on a journey into the Unknown all the way from England to New Zealand . I had never been to New Zealand and didn’t know anybody but had a job offer from a GP practice in Rotorua and decided to go for it and somehow make it work.
Now on arrival came the difficult bit: finding that perfect piece of land to realize our dream
Well, it was winter, the weather was miserable, the boys fed up with having looked at what felt like 1000 lifestyle blocks, not to mention the poor Estate Agent, who got very close to a nervous break-down, because we just couldn’t make up our minds..We all needed a break and so we decided to go to the South Island for a holiday.
In between work, packing, picking up the boys from school and sorting the dogs out ready for the kennel, the Estate Agent rang, this time quite excited: he had found the perfect property – and I knew the moment I drove up the driveway, that this was it, and I hadn’t even seen the house yet!
High up on the hill- with beautiful lake views- it overlooks the north shore of Lake Rotorua –although the prospect of managing 20 acres seemed a bit daunting to novice like me. However, I decided to be brave and signed on the dotted line.
Two months later we moved in. It was spring, the grass growing like crazy with only twelve sheep to graze it. Panic began to set in with the sight of all the luscious green grass and no stock to use it
So off I went to the livestock auction and-not really knowing, what to buy- came back with forty store lambs and eight massive big Angus steers. The steers looked magnificent from the distance, but boy, did I panic, when they refused to be driven into the yards, turned round and thundered in a group towards me, my narrow escape only being the deer fence which I clung to as they ran past
As for the sheep – my oldest son remarked, he never wanted to see another sheep ever, after we had crutched the whole lot three times during the summer months and still got some with fly strike.
And then we raised some calves, which the boys really enjoyed.
Must have been beginner’s luck because they all did well!
But in order to realize my dream of becoming a full time farmer my small holding had to become profitable. This meant that the land had to carry livestock that had real value which could turn a good profit Back in England, I had always admired Highland Cattle for their good looks and noble appearance, but I never dreamt of owning and breeding them myself, because of two major stumbling blocks: the horns and the bull.
All articles in every lifestyle magazine I had ever read urged you to dehorn your cattle and advised you against having a 1000kg testosterone charged animal of pure muscle on a small block. Both combined: horns and muscle, absolutely terrified me, especially with the above mentioned “steer experience” still vivid in my memory.
Had I not visited the Rotorua A&P show back in January 2007, I would probably have a small herd of Alpacas by now because that was the other livestock option, I had considered. But the first display tent we came across at the show was” Trossachs Highlands”.
I count my blessings that I overcame my shyness and approached Drew about the possibility of farming Highland cattle on my small block. Very quickly I was drawn into an interesting discussion about how to build up a good quality stud, while my growing boys with their always healthy appetite were happily munching their way through the cakes in the neighbor’s tent (Sorry, Carol and Angus Morison from Tigh Mor Highlands, I’ll bring yiou some scones at the next A&P show to make up for my sons appetites!)
Drew seemed to know exactly what I wanted, a foundation herd with a wide range of quality genetics. A few days later photos of my starter pack arrived via e-mail.
I chose Sinclair, a hummel bull, sired by Laird of Trossachs, Meat and Wool Cup winner and New Zealand Supreme Champion as my herd sire. His dam was Annie York of Trossachs, a homozygous hummel, which is extremely rare.This choice would help me to enter the hummel market gradually As for the heifers: I picked a dun coloured and a red heifer in order to cover a wide range of colours in future.
A month later they arrived . We were all immediatly captured by their magic and bonded with them really quickly. My worries about the bull were totally unfounded: Sinclair turned out to be a complete gentleman, being also very affectionate. I brush him now regularly in the paddock, and tell him about my day which he seems to understand and he really loves the close contact and company. The boys have quickly adapted and love helping with halter-training and feeding out .
My new fold got its name after the “Mull of Kintyre”, a beautiful half-island in the north west of Scotland, a part of the country, which brings back happy memories of my life in the U.K.
