What is a heifer? What is a steer?
A heifer is a young female animal that hasn't yet had a calf (a 'maiden heifer'), or has only had one calf. Once a heifer has had two calves she is called a cow.
A steer is a male animal that has been castrated. Most bull calves are 'marked' (ie castrated) when they are young. This makes them calmer and easier to handle. We mark our bull calves by placing rubber bands around the scrotum. After about 6 weeks, the scrotum, with the testicles, drop off. This is a bloodless and considered to be a relatively pain-free process. 

Do Belties have horns?
No - not even the bulls! Galloways are a 'poll' or 'naturally polled' breed, meaning they are hornless, making them safer to handle or be around.

What vaccinations or drenches do cattle need?
We give our cattle an injection of '7-in-1' when they are born (and a booster about two months later). This is renewed each year. The 7-in-1 vaccine protects against 7 common cattle diseases. We also give them a pour-on drench which protects them against parasites such as lice and intestinal parasites. If you buy one of our calves they will have had these medications.

We routinely inject our pregnant heifers or cows with a pre-calving multivitamin injection.  During the winter or times of high pasture growth, we provide vitamin and salt blocks to our herd to ensure good metabolic health.

What are the tags and buttons in the cattle's ears?
Our cattle have two things in their ears: a white NLIS button, and a coloured ear tag.

Any cattle that are moved from one property to another must have a National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) button in their ear. This is a round button with a series of numbers and letters on it. In most cases the button will be white, being the button put on by the property on which the animal was born. The button will contain the Property Identification Code (PIC), and then a series of letters and numbers particular to the animal. These buttons must not be removed. They are intended to allow animals to be traced in case of disease outbreaks or other need. At Highbury Farm we always put the NLIS button in the animal's right ear.

The coloured tags are just for an owner's convenience. Ours have a number and the name we have given the animal. There are different colours according to which year the animal was born. We put the tag in the right ear for heifers and in the left ear for bulls/steers.

What is a PIC? Do I need one if I buy a calf?
A PIC, or Property Identification Code, is a NSW government-issued unique identifier for a property.  Any property in NSW where 'livestock' (including one or more cattle) are kept must have a PIC.

If you want to buy one of our calves but don't have a PIC you will need to obtain one. You can apply online through the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website.

Is there paperwork involved in buying a calf?
Yes there is! We will provide you with a tax receipt, and we are also obliged to complete a National Vendor Declaration (NVD), which may be in electronic or paper form. A NVD contains details of our PIC, certain information relating to the animal's health and details of your PIC. Once you buy a calf you need to notify its arrival on your property, which can be done online. 

What do cattle eat?
Our cattle roam free in our paddocks and eat grass. Sometimes they will eat other plants growing in the paddocks, including nibbling at trees, but grass is their main food. We do not supplement their diet with processed food such as protein pellets. When grass is in short supply - eg because of a drought, or during winter - we supplement our cows' diet with hay (which is basically dried grass). Hay is also useful in providing roughage for cows that are producing milk or about to calve. Some of our cows like to eat carrots, which they will take from our hands.

It is also important that your cattle have ready access to drinking water - eg from a dam or trough.

Do cattle need shelter?
Unlike some other livestock (eg alpacas), cattle do not need shelter other than the occasional tree for shade.