Summary
A warm welcome from Killochries Fold.
We hope this paper will give you a little more information about us and our breeding policies as well as plenty details on the cattle attending the Oban sale. As always, if you have any questions, please just get in touch!
Since 1995, when Killochries Fold Highlanders were established, our cattle have developed a formidable reputation not only as show winners but also as a strong commercial strain, with earlier maturing characteristics and exceptional live weight gains.
All Killochries cattle are signet recorded and have shown continuous improvement over the years, to the point where we are struggling to find any weak links to trim the herd! Genetics, not feeding, is key to us. Our heifers calf at 3yrs and our steers finish at 2yr old. In addition, we do not creep feed the calves as we are trying to measure the cow’s ability to raise the calf. Pedigree and breed conformance are paramount, viability must go hand in hand.
In addition to signet numbers, DNA samples are available for all cattle at the show. Having experimented with DNA sampling years ago, we are finding it increasingly useful today due to advances in technology. DNA sampling enables us to measure growth rates, tenderness and general performance at the time the calf is born, rather than wait for the time lag of performance recording.
Killochries Fold – Oban October 2024
The Highland Cattle Society’s 127th Annual Autumn Show and Sale is scheduled to take place at Oban on Sunday 13 October and Monday 14 October, with the show commencing at 11am on Sunday and sale commencing at 10am on Monday. The judge will be Robert Wain.
Click on the link below to download our PDF brochure for full information
KILLOCHRIES AT OBAN OCTOBER 2024
Heifers for sale
LOT 28 Princess 37th of Killochries
UK: 583241 101717 | Dob 03/06/2022 | Black
LOT 25 Eileen 4th of Killochries
UK: 583241 301691 | Dob 09/05/2022 | Black
Stephanie 8th of Killochries – LOT 27
UK: 583241 301705 | Dob 23/05/2022 |White
Bull for Sale
Tearlach 8th of Killochries
No. 90: Class 14 males,
UK: 583241 101598 |Dob 03/04/2021 | Red
Tearlach 8th of Killochries father’s line has two powerful and prolificgrandfathers. Lord Mosscastle of Old Greenlaw a hugely successful bull at Ardbhan and Sean Ghart of Ormsary was our stock bull for many years.
Killochries Fold –
Annual Spring Show Oban 2024
The Highland Cattle Society’s 133rd Annual Spring Show and Sale is scheduled to take place at Oban on Sunday 11 February and Monday 12 February.
Lot 86 Princess 36th of Killochries Fold and Eileen 5th of Killochries Fold
Click on the link below to download our brochure for more information
KILLOCHRIES AT OBAN SPRING SALE 2024
The 2020 Oban show & sale.
Thanks to all who joined us at the pen – we thoroughly enjoyed catching up! It was also lovely to meet new people and we have been privileged to meet life long friends over the years from our time at Oban. It is always a treat to be there. We were a big team this year and used to event as a good excuse to invite the different farm teams for a wee get-together. A huge thank you to Alan and Susan from Drumcross/Killochries who did all the preparation work as well as managed the cattle at Oban. Thanks also to Davie, Shepherd and Stockman at Killochries and to Iain Wilkinson, Share Farmer at Balgay and his wife, Jen. Daughter, Mairi, tenant at Shieldaig Croft brought our three of our grandchildren, Ella, Eriskay and Lara, who had great difficulty extracting themselves from the calf pen at the end of each day! It was lovely to see their enthusiasm. There was even a request to plait the calves fringes for the sale day…which had to be denied!
The cattle did well at the show and even better in the sale. Heifer, Baravalla Mina Calum was 2nd in her class in the show and 2nd in the sale, selling for 4,800 guineas. This cracking heifer sold to D Acella, Borgata Confine from Italy. The calves had a mixture of 2nd and 3rd in their classes, with Seonaid Tearlach 3rd of Killochries topping the calf sale at 2300gns to JA McCulloch, Glentoo of Castle Douglas. The bulls have been sold privately.
Work is in progress to update the web as we still have missing sections. There is also a huge amount of activity here in conservation and sustainable farming so we will be posting much more in that area over the next few months. In the meantime, we will leave the Oban summary online for a time just to give an idea of the quality of cattle available. Although these cattle are now sold, there are plenty more back at base so please get in touch for farm visits. See you all in Oban for 2021, if not before!
129th Oban Show & Sale 9th & 10th Feb 2020
This year at Oban we are bringing 11 cattle:
Two Bulls
UK583241 301208 Dob 19/05/2017 – Calum Dubh 3rd of Killochries
On Signet performance recording Calum had a Beef Value of HI 25, which puts him in the top 1% and a 400-day weight putting him again in the top1%.
UK 583241 701149 Dob 06/04/2017 – Aonghas 5th of Killochries
A bull with superb sale topping genetics and a high head that will produce beautiful heifers.
Two 3yr old in calf heifers
Of particular interest are the 3 year old in calf heifers. Calving at 3yrs has been standard practice at Killochries for a significant period of time, with great success. Very high fertility and selective breeding has enabled this early calving and any myths about these cows not reaching full lifespan as a result of early calving have been well and truly dispelled. Our oldest cow calved at 3yrs and is now approaching her 20th year, once again, in calf.
Seven yearling heifers
The policy at Killochries is not to creep feed the calves as we are trying to measure the cow’s ability to raise the calf. Normally we would target 0.75 WDA for heifers and 1.00 for bulls. Tis group of heifers has averaged 1.00 WDA without supplement to cows or calves! Te % Dam weight of 41.60% clearly demonstrates the
commercial viability of the Highland cow.
All cows at Killochries Fold are calved at three years old and any of the herd not in calf is culled. Last year this policy gave us all sixty plus Highland cows in calf with no cow assisted during calving. As of the time of writing (21st Jan 2020), the vet has PD’d all 66 cows. Again 100% in calf.
Killochries Fold is a high hill farm where cattle are out-wintered in the wet, windy conditions of the west of Scotland. Highland cattle play an integral role in our drive towards regenerative agriculture, where they help to improve crop diversity, which has the knock on effect of improving wildlife and biodiversity on the farm.
Details of Oban cattle 2020
Thee Year Old Heifers in Calf
Baravalla Mina Calum of Killochries
UK583241 301173 Dob 20/04/2017
Baravalla’s black father, Calum Dubh of Killochries has a grandfather Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries. Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd, whose semen has been shipped worldwide, has produced champions in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. His line originates from the Rigg, where from the 1950s, some of the best black cattle in Scotland were bred.
Baravalla Mina Calum’s mother, Baravalla Mina 3th of Killochries is not only the best and biggest cow we own, last year at fourteen she produced ten perfect embryos, sire Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries. Demand from Australia and New Zealand will mean she will be flushed again this season.
Baravalla Mina Calum has been AI’d to Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd estimated to calve in early April. Our vet has P’d Baravalla in calf to Calum. However, the AI was followed on by a natural service from Gille Dubh 1st of West Edmondsley who has Craigomill and Killochries on either side of his pedigree.
Baravalla Mina Calum of Killochries
Baravalla Mina 3rd of Killochries – Mother of Baravalla Mina Calum of Killochries.
Gille Dubh 1st of Edmondsley – back up sire for AI
Lilly 6th of Killochries (Craigmarloch)
UK 587605 100001 Dob 26/04/2017
Angus the 8th of Dunvegan, Lilly’s father, spent his last years with us. He had a fantastic career as a stock bull and many successful breeders have used his semen. We used Angus’ semen and were so impressed by his calves that we were delighted to have Angus during his last years. He was a big strong bull with great locomotion and very true to the breed standard.
From Lilly’s mother’s side, she has inherited the sweetness of Auchnacraig and the lovely head from her grandfather, Somerled of Killochries.
Lilly has been AI’d with semen from Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries. Due to calve about the 4th of April. Because of Calum’s DNA, the calf will probably be black. Our vet has P’d Lilly in calf to Calum. Te AI was followed up by a natural service from Gille Dubh 1st of Edmondsley (see above).
Lilly 6th of Killochries
About Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries
Comments:
“This is the bull we have been looking for in Australia to improve thickness and muscle expression (he has a tremendous loin) and Highland character at the same time (hair, head shape and beautiful horns on his heifers). He throws some width below, great legs, as well as strong top lines. He has a much sort afer, traditional pedigree, with Rigg animals on both sides, as well as Achnacloich, Douneside, Millerston, Strathallen, Benmore, Pollok and Old Greenlaw. Being homozygous black, he will only throw black (or dun if your female has a dilution gene).”
“I viewed this bull at the Killochries fold, observed his movement and I was impressed with his thickness, right through over the shoulders. His progeny showed his easy doing, well fleshed bodies, and beautiful heads. Killochries selected him for his commercial traits – muscling, eye-muscle-area and remarkable early growth, which impressed me greatly. Tis is a bull that has never been in the show ring, yet he has so much to give in the ring and with carcass statistics.” – Glen Hastie – Australia.
“Out of interest, at the last Australian National Highland Show, our bull & heifer (both sired by Calum) were named Junior Champion Bull & Heifer. They are indeed traditional, thick Highlands with great locomotion. We are very happy with the type that Calum has produced.”
Glen Hastie – Australia
Melissa Kramer – Australia
Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries
Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries
Three Year Old Bulls
Calum Dubh 3rd of Killochries
UK583241 301208 Dob 19/05/2017
Calum Dubh 3rd of Killochries
On Calum’s father’s side, we have a grandfather Sean Ghart of Ormsary, whose son, Sean 2nd of Killochries, was champion at Oban. Great grandfather, Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries, gives him both power and performance.
His mother’s side has Princess Dubh 7th of the Rigg, perhaps the best cow to come out of the Rigg. Seamus of Killochries gives him style and early maturing.
On Signet performance recording Calum had a Beef Value of HI 25, which puts him in the top 1% and a 400-day weight putting him again in the top 1%.
Calum Dubh of Killochries, father of Calum Dubh 3rd of Killochries. Hill bull working Shieldaig Croft, Gairloch, Wester Ross.
Sean 2nd of Killochries
Killochries champion , Sean 2nd of Killochries, was sired by Calum Dubh 3rd’s grandfather, Sean Ghart of Ormsary.
Aonghas 5th of Killochries
UK 583241 701149 Dob 06/04/2017
Aonghas 5th of Killochries
On Aonghas’s father’s side, his grandfather is Lord Mosscastle of Old Greenlaw, who is also the grandfather of the superb black Ardbhan bull who did so well at last year’s sale. His great grandfather was Gille Dubh 2nd of Killochries.
On his mother’s side, his grandfather is Sean Ghart of Ormsary, father of Oban champion, Sean 2nd of Killochries. Great grandfather, Somerled of Killochries, gives him his high head that will produce beautiful heifers.
Aonghas 5th of Killochries
Yearling Heifers
This group of yearlings is the most powerful group we have ever brought to Oban.
The policy at Killochries is not to creep feed the calves as we are trying to measure the cow’s ability to raise the calf. Normally we would target @ 0.75kg per day for heifers and 1.00kg per day for bulls. This group of heifers has averaged 1.00kg per day WDA, without supplement to cows or calves.
The % Dam weight of 41.60% clearly demonstrates the commercial viability of the Highland cow.
All cows at Killochries Fold are calved at three years old and any of the herd not in calf is culled. Last year this policy gave us all sixty plus Highland cows in calf and no cow assisted during calving. This year, PD testing on 21st Jan 2020 showed all sixty six cows in calf again. With 100% in-calf two years running, it is reassuring to see the efforts on breeding fertility and managing genetics paying off!
The Sires of the Yearling Heifers
Tearlach 2nd of Killochries
UK 583241 200871 DOB 02/04/2014
On Tearlach’s father’s side, his grandfather is Lord Mosscastle of Old Greenlaw. His great grandfather is Gille Dubh 2nd of Killochries. Tearlach’s grandfather, Lord Mosscastle of Old Greenlaw, is also the grandfather of the Ardbhan bull that topped the sale at Oban 2019.
Also on his father’s side, his Grandmother is Meta T4. Meta T4’s great grandfather is Kirkibost of Ardbhan, whose father is Lord Angus of Old Greenlaw.
On this mother’s side, his grandfather is Sean Ghart of Ormsary, the father of our champion bull, Sean 2nd of Killochries. Sean Ghart of Ormsary’s grandfather is also Kirkibost of Ardbhan.
Tearlach has worked since he was fourteen months old and lives on the hill all the year round. He is a powerful bull with fantastic locomotion. In 2019 he left us some lovely white calves.
Tearlach 2nd of Killochries in the Summer of 2016 (2yrs old)
Uilleam of Dumyat
UK 542889 400284 DOB 12-08-16
On Uilleam’s father’s side he goes back to Balmoral. On this mother’s side to Torr Ban, with great grandfather Jock 2nd of Auch, the same line as our first, homebred bull, Seamus of Killochries.
The Yearling Heifers
Seonaid Tearlach 3rd of Killochries
UK 583241 301355 Dob 20/04/2019 White
Seonaid Tearlach 3rd of Killochries
Sire Tearlach 2nd of Killochries. Seonaid weaned at 209 Kg, 247 Kg adjusted, live weight gain 1.14 Kg @ day WDA.
On her mother’s side, her grandfather is Somerled of Killochries and her great grandfather, Kirkibost of Ardbhan; Kirkibost was the son of Lord Angus of Old Greenlaw. Lord Angus regularly appears in the pedigrees of some of the best Highland cattle. Way back, Seonaid has Lord Angus on both sides of her pedigree.
Nighean Tearlach 2nd of Killochries
UK 583241 301334 Dob 31/03/2019 Red
Father Tearlach 2nd of Killochries. Mother Nighean Ruadh 2nd of Killochries who goes back to Ormsary. Further back on both sides of her pedigree she has Rigg genetics.
This is a strong heifer, weaned at 220 Kg, 231 Kg adjusted a daily live weight gain of 1.03 Kg @ day WDA and like all the heifers in our Oban group, we would advise that she is calved at three years old.
Eden Uilleam of Killochries
Eden Uilleam of Killochries. Sired by Uilleam of Dumyat. Eden Uilleam, weaned at 224 Kg, 242 Kg adjusted, growing at 0.99 Kg @ day WDA.
Her grandfather on her mother’s side is Angus of Dunvegan and great grandfather, Sean Ghart of Ormsary.
Her great-great grandfather is Somerled of Killochries and her great great great, grandfather Seamus of Killochries. The start of our Eden Righ family was Eden Righ 2nd of Flodden, purchased at Oban.
Liusaigh Uilleam of Killochries
UK 583241 501336 Dob 02-04-2019 Black
Liusaigh Uilleam of Killochries’ sire is Uilleam of Dumyat. She weaned at 212 Kg, 238 Kg adjusted growing at 0.98 Kg @ day WDA.
On her mother’s side, her grandfather is Angus of Dunvegan and great grandfather Sean Ghart.
Her black colour comes partly from her father and from the strong black gene from her great great grandfather Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries.
Ailsa Tearlach 2nd of Killochries
UK 583241 101339 Dob 05-04-2019 | White
Ailsa weaned at 201 Kg, 217 adjusted a growth rate of 0.97 Kg @ day WDA.
Sire Tearlach 2nd of Killochries. Hilary Barker of Torrie Fold bred her mother Aisla 3rd of Torrie and we were delighted to be able to purchase her through a UA sale.
She is a lovely stylish strong heifer and again, we would advise that she should calf at three years old.
Tasmin Uilleam of Killochries
UK 583241 701338 Dob 03-04-2019
Sire Uilliam of Dumyat, Tasmin weaned at 210 Kg, 237 Kg adjusted growing at 0.97 Kg @ day WDA.
Her mother’s side brings in the strong black gene from her great grandfather Calum Seoladair Dubh 2nd of Killochries.
Her great grandmother, Magaidh of Glengorm adds even more depth and quality to her pedigree.
Nighean Uilleam of Killochries
UK 583241 201340 Dob 03-04-2019
Another beautiful red heifer sired by Uilleam of Dumyat. It may be of interest that all Uilleam’s calves are out of three-year-old heifers and are as big, powerful and sweet as our calves out of the older cows.
She weaned at 200 Kg, 230kg adjusted growing at 0.94 Kg @ day WDA.
On the mother’s side, she has Angus of Dunvegan as her grandfather and on her grandmother’s side, she goes back to Ormsary who used Gille Dubh of Craigowmill whose grandmother is the fabulous Princess Dubh 7th of Rigg. Brilliant heifer with a lovely deep red coat.
