On Christmas eve 2003, three pedigree Highland heifers arrived at Auchnagathle.  Our closed fold has grown to thirteen with six calves due this summer. 

Fed on a natural grass diet and watered by the springs of Bennachie, our cattle are raised to the highest animal welfare standards.  The girls are visited once a year by Ben Arkle, a handsome pedigree bull.

Every animal is tagged, for traceability, and named, as is often traditional with Highland cattle.  I must add that I do not quite follow the proper naming etiquette, using gaelic terms.  ‘Camilla’ was born on the day of the wedding of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall!  And the four calves born in 2006 are all characters from ‘The Scottish play’, by William Shakespeare. In 2008 we honour the Beijing Olympics with Beibei, Jingjing,Huanhuan,Yingying and NIni, the five calves born this summer!

Our farm is not large but we feel a commitment to the stewardship of our bit of countryside.  We have tried to enhance the environment for birds and wildlife to thrive, with hedge planting, trout ponds, and planting of hardwood and native trees.  The trout ponds have naturally stocked with native brown trout, which feed our resident grey herons.  Ducks nest on the millpond and red squirrels have recently arrived.  We also have a noisy rookery, which brings luck to the whole venture.  And a six kilowatt wind turbine now sits at the top of the hill, generating most of our electric requirements. 

We also keep a flock of hens (with one happy cockerel) and raise a few rare breed pigs every summer.