 |
|
History Brue Fold
The Brue Fold of pedigree Highland Cattle was started with the purchase of two yearling heifers at the breed’s premier Oban sale in February 2001.
These two pedigree heifers, Una of Borve and Caileag Bheag 17th of Callachally along with Seònaid 3rd of Crossnish, which was purchased at the next year’s (Feb 02) Oban sale as a two-year old heifer, are the foundation breeding stock of the fold. The only other female purchase to date was another yearling heifer, Marree Ruadh 3rd of West Merkland, which was purchased at the breed’s Perth sale in May 2006.
Breeding started in June 2003 with the arrival of the first bull, Angus 4th of Dunvegan, on loan from the Dunvegan Fold as a rising two-year old and used with the fold’s three 3-year old heifers.
In 2004, another Dunvegan bull, Lachlan 2nd of Auchnacraig, was used along with AI from Rìoghail of Balmoral. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, the fold’s own stock bull, Pìobaire Ruadh of Dunvegan was used – purchased as a month old calf from Dunvegan in March 2004. (See History - Pìobaire Ruadh of Dunvegan) In 2007 the fold’s younger stock bull, 2 year old Calum Ruadh of Brue, was used for the 3 year old heifers.
Calum A Mitchell, the fold’s stockman who also assists Bill Hendry with his Tom Buidhe fold, has been involved with the development of the Brue Fold from its initial planning stages. His first brief was to travel from Stornoway to Oban, as a 17-year old, via Caledonian MacBrayne ferry and Citylink bus, armed with the two key essentials – a mobile phone and a chequebook!
The personal contacts he has made at the Society’s sales and shows since then have proved invaluable in freely offering him and the fold’s owners ongoing sound advice, guidance and assistance. They include Bob McWalter, Corpach; David MacDonald, Farm Manager, and Roddy Bain, stockman (retired 2005) of the Dunvegan Fold in Skye and John Crilley, Farm Manager of the Leys Fold, Inverness, who is also the Highland Cattle Society’s Fieldsman for the Highlands and Islands area – four breed stalwarts with over 130 years of ‘hands on’ experience and expertise between them. We endeavour to heed their advice and try and aim for the high standards they have set!
In June 2008, the Brue Fold numbers stood at:
| Female stock |
No |
Male stock |
No |
| Suckling cows |
2 |
Four-year old bull |
1 |
| Four-year old heifers |
2 |
Three-year old bull |
1 |
| Three-year old heifer (in-calf) |
1 |
Two-year old bull |
0 (Sold one Feb ’08) |
| Two-year old heifers |
2 |
Yearling bull |
|
| One-year old heifer |
1 |
Yearling bullocks |
2 |
| Heifer calves |
4 |
Bull calf |
1 |
| Total |
12 |
|
5 |
In June 2007, the Brue Fold numbers stood at:
| Female stock |
No |
Male stock |
No |
| Suckling cows |
3 |
Three-year old bull |
1 |
| Three-year old heifers (in-calf) |
2 |
Two-year old bull |
1 |
| Two-year old heifer |
1 |
One-year old bull |
1 |
| One-year old heifers |
2 |
Yearling bullocks |
2 |
| Heifer calf |
1 |
Bull calves |
2 |
| Total |
9 |
|
7 |
In June 2006, the Brue Fold numbers stood at:
| Female stock |
No |
Male stock |
No |
| Suckling cow |
3 |
Two-year old bull |
1 |
| Two-year old heifer |
2 |
One-year old bull |
1 |
| One-year old heifer |
2 |
Yearling bullock |
1 |
| Heifer calf |
2 |
Bull calf |
1 |
| Total |
9 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
