Balnafettach Farm

Our Commitment to Quality, Animal Welfare and the Environment

'Balnafettach', we are told, comes from the Gaelic meaning "the heath of the Golden Plover". Although sadly the Golden Plovers disappeared sometime in the 1950's, we are fortunate that there is still a huge diversity of bird and other wildlife on the farm. At Balnafettach we believe that we are the custodians of the land and with this philosophy in mind, we strive to integrate all our farm practices with the careful management of our natural environment.

Highland Cattle produce a beef which (in our opinion) cannot be beaten on quality, taste or tenderness. Try some and tell us if you agree! Highlanders are also excellent natural land managers.

Highlanders are natural 'browsers' of the rough grazings, heather moorlands and natural birch and pine woodlands which form the most part of Balnafettach. Their low intensity grazing keeps weeds and rank grasses in check, whilst promoting the healthy growth of our diverse flora/herb rich grasses and heathers. Gentle 'poaching' of the land by their hooves indeed helps to re-seed naturally. The dung is a haven for insects, themselves a link in the food chain for a wide variety of birdlife. In fact we have been reliably informed (from the RSPB and other organisations) that Highland Cattle will not damage a ground-nesting bird's nest (but instead will walk round them) of which we have many (lapwings, oystercatchers, curlews, redshanks etc.) More and more Highland cattle are being used as 'natural environment managers' in nature reserves, national parks etc. in many parts of this country and abroad.

To further enhance the benefits brought by the cattle (and the sheep), we participate in various support schemes - Environmental Sensitive Area Scheme, Woodland Grant Scheme etc.

As a further commitment to our animals and customers we are also members of the following organisations:

Quality Meat Scotland

HI Health

Highland Cattle Society