Shat Acres Highland Cattle, LLC
Janet Steward & Ray Shatney
Vermont
The Farm
Shat Acres Highland Cattle is the oldest registered fold of Highland Cattle in the US, since 1966. My husband Ray and I raise and sell registered Highland breeding stock as well as 100% Grass Fed and Finished Beef. We recently built a new, sleeps-six Agritourism Farm Stay. Guests who stay at Highland House Farm Stay Airbnb or who choose day tours comb and cuddle Highland calves, learn about our regenerative agricultural practices, and what makes Highland beef special.
The Project Funded
Our Grant will be used to wire the barn cameras which allow us to monitor our momma cows as they get closer to calving. Our Highland cows live outdoors most of their lives, coming into the barn for weaning, calving or vet care. Most of the time they thrive in our northern climes as long as they have wooded areas to go into for shelter and shade. As our only product is our calf, we want to ensure a successful birth and initial mothering care. Having the cameras will ensure greater success rate for momma and baby.
Project Impact
Losing a calf, or worse a momma, means that all that we have done to feed and care for our breeding cows was for naught. Economically saving every calf impacts our bottom line dramatically. In addition the cameras improve our quality of life by not having to travel to the barn several times each night to check on a cow nearing calving. Being able to check a monitor from the house means more sleep for the farmer and being more productive during the day. Because we have a Farm Stay where guests interact with calves, we need to have healthy moms and babies for them to see and pet!
