\ WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. One of the world’s oldest cattle breeds descended on the Eastern States Exposition in West Spring field, Mass., for the 1997 Eastern States Exposition Regional High land Show, complete with a bag piper to announce the animals’ entrance to the show ring. This unique breed, easily recog nized by its long shaggy coat and wide, sweeping horns, attracted many breeders and an interested audience alike to the show, the first of its kind at The Big E. The animals vary in color from silvcr/whitc, blond, and dun (gray) to red, brindle and black. Mature Highland bulls typically weigh 1,700-2,000 pounds and the aver age cow weighs 1,000-1,300 pounds at maturity. Despite their long horns, they are docile, even tempered animals, according to Chris Hawkins, breed representa tive and exhibitor from Lancaster, N.H. The Highland breed is believed to have originated in the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland, where the environment is harsh and severe. They have evolved into an extremely hardy breed that can withstand extreme weather conditions. They have two coats of hair, a thick and wooly inner coat that acts as a blanket to retain heat, and an outer long and shaggy coat that sheds rain and protects the inner coat from becoming damp and cold. Hawkins said he really prom oted the show to the breeders, say ing that “for the breed and the association, we needed as much public exposure as possible.” He added that the exposure is good for not only the fair-going public, who may not be familiar with Highland cattle, but for other breeders to meet and talk with each other about their Highlands. The show, heavily supported by the Northeast Highland Cattle Association, was well-attended. Twenty-two exhibitors paraded 65 animals before Judge Dr. Scott Barao of College Park, Md. This year's show was the 18th annual Northeast Regional Show. This show also had die notorie ty of being the first one where a Compost Exam Set ANNAPOLIS, Md. Mary land Department of Agriculture (MDA) Secretary Lewis R. Riley has announced that the next Com posting Facility Certified Opera tor Examination is scheduled Fri day, Nov. 21 at MDA’s headquar ters building in Annapolis. “The Composting Facility Operator Certification Program is designed to ensure that an opera tor of a commercial composting facility is knowledgeable about composting methods and systems and is familiar with compost reg ulations,” said Riley. “Composting is an expanding industry in Maryland for recycling a variety of organic wastes, such as yard debris, crab processing wastes, livestock and poultry manures, or municipal solid wastes. The MDA has been given the responsibiltiy to make sure that commercial compost products are properly labeled and are pro duced by a composting facility with a certified operator,” Riley said. The certification exam is open to qualified individuals from the private or public sectors who have World’s Oldest Breed Of Cattle Competes At Big E separate junior show was held for junior exhibitors. This January, the second will be held at the National Highland Show and Sale in Denver, Colo. Hawkins, who has been raising Highlands for eight years, now has 14 animals in his herd. He and his wife, Sue, specialize in Highlands with first-generation Scottish bloodlines. He serves on the board of directors for the Northeast Highland Cattle Association, and is editor of the national breed journal. The Highland breed is the old est breed known to man. It was the first to appeal in the earliest herd registry of 1884. Hawkins said beef from Highland cattle is very lean and flavorful, as the inner coat layer keeps the animal warm, preventing the need for a layer of fat. This makes the final product very desirable to consumers, who are looking for a low-fat alterna tive to the more traditional breeds of beef. Many of the Highland exhibi tors showed their cattle while wearing long white laboratory coats. This attire is considered traditional in the British Isles, where Highlands originated and arc frequently shown. The coats lent an authentic air to the show, as did the bagpiper who announced the cattle with the sounds of Scodand. Mike Kerr, a native of New York now living in the Boston area, was dressed in a green and navy plaid kilt and full Scottish attire, played his bagpipes throughout the show. A third generation Scottish musician, this is the first time he has played at a cattle show in the 24 years he has played the pipes. Kerr said he enjoyed playing the music and felt the exhibitors and the audience thought it added to the experience. One of the exhibitors at the show, the Faulkner family of Stoddard, N.H., has one of the longest histories with Highland cattle. Their Pitcher Mountain Farm first imported Highland cattle to the United States in the 19405. The first Highland cattle were imported into this country by North Dakota residents who were experience or education in com mercial composting of organic wastes. Interested persons should submit a completed application to MDA. Applications will be accepted as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 13 or faxed to MDA by that date. An application for operator certification or additional infor mation may be obtained by calling the State Chemist Section’s Com Cattleman Produces Dam Of Distinction LIVINGSTONE MANOR, N.Y. Stone Ridge Farm, Livingston Manor was recently recognized by the American Here ford Association (AHA) for pro ducing one cow named to the Dams of Distinction list These are the most efficient cows in the Hereford breed,” said Dr. John Hough, AHA’s director of research and performance. They’ve met the strictest require looking for a hardy, low maintenance breed of cattle that could survive the harsh conditions. The first Highland registry was established in Deadwood, S.D. There are now a number of region al associations, including the Northeast Association, as well as the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachian, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mountain States, Northwest, and California groups. The Northeast group has more than 250 paid members rep resenting 24 states and Canada, and approximately 4,000 head of Highland cattle. Other results of the show are as follows: Big E Highlands Show Results Late Junior Heifer Calf —l. Horatio & Robarta Rolica Junior Heifer Calf—l. Gordon Caldwell, 2. Drover Hill Farm, 3. Gordon Caldwell. Early Junior Heifer Calf—l. Staana Hill Farm & James t Joyce Ban non, 2. Jimmy Bannon. Junior Heifer Calf Champion Gordon Caldwell. Reserve Junior Holfor Calf Champion Orovar Hill Farm. Lata Sanlor Heifer Calf 1. Mick Jenk ins, 2 Fred & Carol Ann Dill, 3. Hawks wood Farm. Sanlor Heifer Calf 1. Harold & Joyce Ledar. Senior Heifer Champion - Mick Jenkin*. Raaarve Senior Heifer Champion - Har old l> Joyce Ledar. Late Intermediate Yearling Heifer 1. Drover HiK Farm, 2. Larry & Vicki Briltian, 3. Gail & Stanley Maynard. Early Intermediate Yearling Heifer 1. Steane HiH Farm It Ranaa Ban non, 2. Ridge Top Farm, 3. Trafalgar Square Farm t Theo dore Robbin*. Intermediate Yearling Haifar Champion - Steane HID Farm t Ranaa Bannon. Raaarve Intermediate Yearling Heifer Champion - Steane Hill Farm l> Ranee Bannon. Late Junior Yearling Heifer —l. Donald MacLeod, 2 Donald MacLeod, 3 EZ Acres t Adrian Braun. Early Junior Yearling Haifar —l. Ridge Top Farm, 2. Nail Mclntosh t Burnt, 3. Hawks wood Farm. Junior Yearling Heifer Champion - Donald MacLeod. Reeerve Junior Yearling Heifer Champ ion Ridge Top Farm. Late 2-Ycar-Old Heifer 1. Ridge Top Farm, 2. Neil Mclntoeh & Bums, 3. Donald t Phyllis Kuhn. Early 2-Year-Old Halter 1. Trafalgar Square Farm t Theodora Robblne, 2. Sue & Chn* Hawkins, 3. Forrest KaHy. 2-Year-Old HeHer Champion Ridge Top Farm Reserve 2-Yaar-Old Heifer Champion Trafalgar Square Farm A Theodore Robbins Qrand Champion Female Ridge Top Farm. Reserve Qrand Champion Female Donald MacLeod. 3- to 4-Year-Old Cow-Calf 1. Ridge Nov. 21 posting Program at 410-841-2721 (fax: 410-841-2765). A list of recommended study materials will be mailed to all qualified applic ants. There is no fee for the examination. For more information, contact David A. Tibbetts, State Chemist Section, at MDA, 50 Harry S. Tru man Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 841-2721. ments for early calving, reproduc tive efficiency, calving intervals of no greater than one year, and weight ratios in the top end of the breeder's herd. Some 3,646 cows were named to the prestigious list for this year. A complete listing of the cows and the 941 breeders who produced them is published in the Novem ber 1997 issue of Hereford World, the breed's official publication. Top Farm, 2. Drover HHI Farm, 3. Horatio I Roberta Rolica. Champion Cow-Coif Ridge Top Farm. Reserve Champion Cow-Calf —'Drover Hill Farm. Junior Bull Calf—l. RldgnTopFann.2. Forrest Kelly, 3. Frederick Qrossmith Junior Bull Calf Champion Ridge Top Farm. Reaerve Junior Bull Calf Champion Forrest Kelly. Intermediate Yearling Bull 1. Sue I Chns Hawkins, 2. Nail Mclntosh. Intermediate Yearling Bull Champion Sue & Chris Hawkins. Raeervs Intermediate Yearling Bull Champion Neil Mclntosh. Junior Yearling Bull 1. Donald MacLeod, 2. Harold & Joyce Ladar, 3. 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