Highland Purchasing Tips

Being a Successful Highland Buyer
Many new Highland breeders have possibly never raised cattle or if they have, they raised cattle when they were younger or with their parents when home on the farm.  These are some questions to ask the prospective Highland breeder who are selling their animals.

Buyer Questions:

Ask how long they have raised Highlands

Where their breeding originated from

Ask to see the animals in their natural setting, pasture or corral etc.

Ask about conformation, have the seller explain the looks of the animal  

Ask to see the dam and sire if available (check out the dam and sires hooves, also the size of the teats and milk bag on the cow)

Check out how docile the dam and sire are as well as its offspring

Ask to see the registration papers

Have the breeder explain the tattoo and look for the tattoo in the ear

Ask about immunizations for the animal, the feed it receives, grain or grass

Is the animal halter trained, docile and eats some sort of treats

Ask about overall farming items, such as pasture per animal, fencing needed, how they work their animals, head chute & corral

Ask about grooming tips they may do with the animal

Ask if the registration papers will be transferred to the buyer and if that is included in the sale

Ask if the seller is sponsoring the new breeder to the national registry

If the cow is pasture bred, ask about a pregnancy test to assure a date of calving

Visit several Highland breeders

Attend some show/display or Agricultural Highland display to talk to breeders and see how animals react in different situations off the farm

Ask about a networking group such as a Regional Highland Association and the national registry

Ask about sponsorship to a Regional Highland Assoc.

If purchasing out of state, ask about health regulations for transfer

Check with your state vet on regulations of transporting from state to state

If purchasing Highlands from  pictures, and not seeing them live, be sure that they are the animals from the picture when delivered. 

If looking to purchase unregistered Highlands, these same questions apply except for the registration papers.  Nevertheless, be sure to ask many questions about the unregistered animals as they may have been crossed or bred up in there lifetime and you never know when a gene can show up in an offspring.

Ask questions as to how long they had these animals

if they bred them

did they purchase the dam and sire when they were young

Very important is when purchasing a bull:

Any bull two years and older must have a TRICH test done by the vet, which is a blood test

It is very important even in private treaty transactions/sales to have a blood test done before putting that bull with a new fold of cows.   

That can be included in the selling price or the buyer can be responsible for the cost

Ask your vet for more information on TRICH tests.

Any virgin bulls under two years old do not need a TRICH test

Very important when purchasing unregistered bulls