26/12/24 - Solomon the government bull
Solomon the shorthorn, who's known as The Department Bull and loaned by the Scottish government to crofters for livestock breeding.
Solomon is just one of the bulls owned by the Scottish Government and welcomed by crofters as part of a unique livestock improvement scheme.
Small scale crofters in the Highlands and Islands can choose a mate for their beef herds from a select stud of bulls owned by the Scottish Government. Groups of crofters band together to order an animal which spends a few weeks with each herd of cows before being returned to base near Inverness.
The visiting animal is known across the Crofting Counties as The Department Bull, a reference to the original Department of Agriculture, and the scheme is highly valued by crofters. However, catching then removing a bull from his cows and transporting him to his next harem can be a tricky operation, especially if it is done out on a moor with no fixed handling facilities. We follow Solomon the Shorthorn on his journey.
Produced and presented by Nancy Nicolson.
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