The Heatherley Fold was founded in 1992 with two Pedigree yearling heifers purchased at the Oban Sale that year.  The prefix 'Heatherley' was an adaptation of the prefix 'Etherley' which belonged to our Pedigree Jersey dairy herd.

The Highlanders were originally run alongside our dairy herd at our farm in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire where we had farmed for nearly 25 years.   However, in 1993 the 1000 acre hill farm of Furmiston was purchased and a year later, the Fold and ourselves relocated forty miles west.  The Etherley Herd of Pedigree Jerseys was dispersed in April 1994 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle (one of the most successful Pedigree sales of the time) and the decision was made to stock Furmiston with Highland Cattle. 

Being geographically not far from Rigg, Sanquhar, meant we knew the Rigg Fold well, therefore when the Rigg dispersal came up, twelve older stock cows were purchased which were to become the foundation of the Heatherley Fold.   Our first stock bull was Tormad of Druimdearg, a lovely sound black bull from the Outer Hebrides, who was with us for thirteen years.

When buying the foundation stock, much care and attention was paid to conformation.   Cattle were chosen for their straight backs - right to the tail head, and excellent mobility and feet.   Animals were not chosen for the Show Ring, but to live and breed for many years on the hill.

As breeders of Highland Cattle, we have now reached our optimum numbers of around one hundred and twenty cows, and purchases are kept to a minimum. Approximately sixty per cent of the fold is black, the remainder being red, dun and white. The cattle are never taken off farm to attend Agricultural Shows.  Several Pedigree Beef Shorthorn bulls have been used on some of the cows recently to enhance the value of the bullocks and non breeding heifers, which are sold as stores.

The cattle are outside all the year round and the adult stock come in to a Feeding Paddock daily from December to May where they are fed a coarse mix of mainly wheat feed, dark grains, and beet pulp.   This is made to our specification by Tarff Valley Feeds of Castle Douglas.  Silage is not used at all, and only a little hay used if the weather is really bad.

Calving takes place from April onwards, and calves are caught on the day of birth (if found in time!), double tagged and castrated if required.   They are weaned from their mothers in November and December, when bull calves and heifers not kept for breeding are dehorned.

The Pedigree Highland stock bulls being used at present are:

Pibroch of Rannoch

Taggart of Heatherley 

For further pictures of the Heatherley Fold, please visit our Gallery.