Our Islay Highland Cows

The Highland Cows

on Persabus Farm, our native Highland Cows, are settling well into their new home.

One Highland Cow has the most beautifully inquisitive and gorgeous calf

A bundle of fun, at times he can be seen jumping and skipping off through the fields at a rate of knots. His mother can be seen charging after him, bellowing loudly, in her efforts to keep him in tow. At other times he can be seen peeping curiously out from her side as he nuzzles in ever so closely to the warm layers of her soft, furry coat. A fiercely protective mother, it is a pleasure to witness nature’s bond, as she keeps a watchful eye on his every move.

Those Highland Cows

The two Highland ‘ladies’ are becoming quite accustomed to the Happy Farmer’s daily feeding rounds. They listen for the familiar sound of the quad bike making its way across the farm. On its arrival into their quarters, they can be seen practically pushing and nudging the Happy Farmer in a bid to get to the cattle cake as it is delivered from the back of the quad. One Highland cow is becoming rather partial to a ‘wee back rub’ from the Happy Farmer as the farmer gently calms and quietens them. Gently and gradually easing those cows into the fold and their new life at Persabus. The other black heifer is still cautious and can be seen doing her little highland jig around the farmer. She is not at all happy with him going near her from the back. Instead, she pirouettes around. The Happy Farmer can be seen skilfully grabbing onto those horns as she ‘dances’, steering them safely away from his torso, as he gently calms her.

The Feeding Rounds

When eldest accompanied him on the feeding rounds at the weekend those ladies were immediately ‘on guard’. Spotting a strange face, their two heads were ‘bolt up’ like a couple of stags. Poised and ready to make for a quick getaway if necessary. Of course, the delivery of their favourite cake seemed to have an instant calming effect on them. That, and a few Gaelic phrases from the farmer. The Persabus cows all have the ‘Gaelic’. The Happy Farmer keeps us well versed in the ‘appropriate lingo’ , encouraging us to speak to them whenever we are passing. Allowing them to get to recognise us. Making sure those cows are never ‘startled’.

The rest of the animals

Each morning as he feeds the rest of his herd, a larger group of ‘ladies’ who can be seen waiting patiently. Gathered across from the old stone walls of the sheep fank, Hansel and Muffin, the horses can be heard galloping over the hill. Those horses know when it’s feeding time. Waiting impatiently for their turn they always try and stretch those long necks across the fence in an attempt to ‘steal’ the cows’  morning feed of cake.

The Lambs

Back in the fields and the lambs are grouping together enjoying racing up and down the fields. We have a particularly cheeky set of Hebridean twins who simply refuse to stay in the field with their mother. Ever curious and enjoying the tasty pickings of the roadside verge and hedging they can be found making their way down the single-track road heading for the ‘speedy highway’ of the main road. Our patient neighbours, the delivery guys and Distillery workers have spent the last few days, following them back carefully guiding them home up the single-track road. Those twins know exactly where they are going and skip gleefully back into the field. They are full of mischief and adventure. A little while later and they will find another escape route.

For anyone who regularly reads the blog you will remember well the tales of ‘Houdini’ the disappearing tup…his offspring are following in his hoof prints…

Until next time…