Our Livestock
Our herd is made up of Pedigree Aberdeen Angus, Pedigree Shetland cattle, and crosses between the two. These traditional native breeds are naturally well-suited to life in the Angus Glens and thrive on a pasture-only diet.
We breed cattle that thrive in this landscape with minimal intervention.
That means animals that can graze diverse pasture, stay healthy through the seasons and raise strong calves without intensive inputs.
Working closely with nature creates a more resilient farming system. When livestock are suited to their environment, there is less stress on the animals, less reliance on external inputs and a healthier balance across the farm.
Many of our Angus bloodlines trace back to smaller native Angus cattle historically developed in these glens before modern farming shifted toward larger-framed animals. Their hardiness and ability to thrive in upland conditions make them a natural fit for Rottal.
Our approach is low-input and nature-led.
Cows are selected for fertility and longevity, two traits highly correlated with environmental adaptation and system resilience. All cows and heifers are expected to calve unassisted, have good feet and udders that allow longevity in the herd with little to no intervention. Heifers stay in the herd with the cows - with no special treatment in terms of feed quality. This allows them to continue to learn from the older cows during calving and through a first winter in-calf.
Calves stay with their mothers for longer than is common in many systems, usually until 10 to 11 months old. This allows them to develop fully both physically and behaviourally. Where separation of calves from cows has to happen, we choose to do this in spring, closer to calving when the cow will be concentrating on her new calf’s arrival. It is at a stage when new grass growth higher in protein is coming through to support the calf without the need for its mother’s milk.
Our cattle are moved regularly onto fresh grass, often daily, using low stress handling methods. We do not routinely medicate animals, instead focusing on strong natural health and resilience. If an animal becomes sick, treatment is always given when needed for welfare. Every animal has a name as an act of respect and for ease of management.
We calve in late spring to match the natural flush of grass growth, allowing cows and calves to thrive from pasture. Our aim is to keep the farming system simple, while allowing the ecology around it to stay rich, diverse and alive.
We sometimes have breeding stock for sale.
Please contact us to find out more at livestock@rottalestates.com
