After seven years of keeping Highland cattle, Robert and Stacey Fletcher are preparing to take another important step in their breeding experience
After seven years of keeping Highland cattle, Robert and Stacey Fletcher are preparing to take another important step in their breeding experience as they head to the Oban Highland Cattle Society Spring Show and Sale with two homebred bulls that represent both progress and ambition within their herd.
The herd consists of eight cows plus followers with a clear aim of breeding quality pedigree cattle to sell on to other Highland breeders. “We’re still learning every day,” Robert and Stacey say, “but we’ve been very lucky to have had help from knowledgeable breeders and to have made great friendships through our shared love of Highland cattle.”
That willingness to learn and take advice has been key to the herd’s development. Early on, the Fletchers focused heavily on temperament and bloodlines when building their foundation herd, something they believe has paid dividends when it comes to management and sale preparation. “Good temperaments make everything easier, especially handling and halter training,” they explain.
A major milestone came in 2022 when respected breeder Kenneth Headspeath entrusted the Fletchers with a young bull to halter train, run with their cows and prepare for Oban as a three-year-old. That bull went on to make breed history, selling for a record 27,000 guineas. The following year Kenneth loaned them the sire of that bull, Angus 2nd of Sorne, and the two bulls heading to Oban this spring are both sired by him, marking the first bulls of the Fletchers’ own breeding to appear at the sale.
From a management point of view, the Fletchers have learned that Highland bulls respond best to a straightforward system. All bulls are out-wintered and are not pushed hard. “They do better outside and not overdone,” they say, “that suits the breed and suits us.”
Nutrition, however, has still played a vital role in supporting that system, particularly in the lead-up to a major spring sale. Norvite has worked closely with the Fletchers, offering practical advice that fits with their ethos of keeping cattle functional while ensuring they are thriving and well prepared for the show and sale ring.
The bulls are being fed on a simple but effective diet of ALpHa Prime Balancer with Flakes, with ALpHA-treated barley and NEOFlo cold-pressed rapeseed oil included to support coat bloom and overall skin and coat condition as Oban approaches.
Ross Williams, Norvite’s Commercial Director, commented: “The bulls are developing well while remaining true to type, demonstrating how the right nutritional support combined with consistent management can deliver strong results without compromising longevity or soundness.”
This winter has not been without its challenges, with extreme snowy conditions making preparation more difficult. Despite this, the Fletchers remain positive and focused as Oban approaches. “As a family, getting to Oban means a lot to us. We’re hopeful of buyers for both bulls.”
Selling a bull last year and now seeing his calves on the ground has been particularly rewarding and has reinforced their confidence in the direction the herd is heading. “It’s great to see your breeding decisions coming through in the next generation and we want to keep building on that.”
As Robert and Stacey prepare to return to Oban once again, their story is one of steady progress, openness to advice and a clear vision for the future - proving that with the right support, a small herd can continue to move forward with confidence.
