About Killochries Fold

Killochries Fold has two streams of Highland Cattle.

The Black Herd

This specialist group from the bloodlines of the Highland Cattle bought at the Rigg dispersal sale constitutes a high quality, highly productive black Highlander that has consistently achieved top prices both privately and at pedigree Highland Cattle sales. This group of Highland Cattle have been bred pure black for many generations and since being under the management of Killochries only the highest productivity cattle have been kept. Expected productivity from these Highlanders is up to 1kg live weight gain per day for bulls and 0.8kg for heifers. The black herd has sold bulls to many other Highland Cattle Folds giving them a high quality bloodline that has been successful not only in show rings but also in the production of steers that will meet a target of over 500kg in 30 months

"In my grandfather's day no colour was considered right for highland cattle but black. The great thing then was to have a fold of black cows. No one would look at the reds and yellows and cream and duns, which are all the rage nowadays. Though the blacks have since become unpopular, I have been told by the very best of old judges of Highland cattle that there is nothing to beat the blacks for hardiness, and that new strains of fancy coloured cattle are much softer and have not the same constitution."

Osgood Mackenzie (1842 - 1922)

Mackenzie was the third son of Sir Francis Mackenzie, the laird of Gairloch. He built Inverewe House and created the remarkable Inverewe Garden, noted for its exotic species. His daughter then gave the garden to the National Trust for Scotland in 1953.

The Main Herd

Stock bull, Somerled of Killochries descends from Millerston and Auchnacraig and is also the sire of the calves on the ground.

This large mob, as with all our cattle, are wintered out. The primary selection is always the cows ability to grow a good
calf (100 day milk). Once a competent, commercial cow is established then only the cows with the best breed characteristics are allowed to remain in this group. Particular emphasis is given to conformation and head. In some cases where horns are damaged and genetics of the animal were known to be good an animal maybe kept in this breeding group otherwise animals not meeting the standard are taken out of the herd and if within 30 months are sold for beef; liveweight of a 30 month heifer has been between 425kg and 510kg. Good feedback has been received regarding quality of Heifer Highland beef.

The lifting of the 30 month rule will make producing heifer beef a more practical proposition under an organic system.