Home | Philosophy | Management | Articles | Sires Breeding Stock For Sale | Stock Wanted | Meat Prices Cube Mountain Highlanders: 'The Survivors' Choice' by William H. Baker Our cattle operation, William H. Baker & Sons, started raising Highland cattle and integrating them into our diversified family farming operation in 1971. Originally our intent was to utilize them in weeding and thinning hardwood brush/saplings from our natural stands of balsam fir trees. From these stands, we harvest greens each fall, making upwards of 4,000 Christmas wreaths and our related decorations which we retail each holiday season. To identify the most functional cattle, we began performance testing them during the first year. In developing a functional herd, we culled severely to promote the six economic essentials: fertility, hardiness, disposition, optimum milk production, carcass quality/conformation and weight gain. Additionally, we culled to promote good feet and udders. This is an ongoing process requiring a tremendous amount of thought, time and effort and includes many disappointments. However, this culling is necessary to maintain and increase the functionality of our genetics. In the early years, the progress of our herd building was very slow. Only in the last ten years have we had meaningful numbers of breeding stock for sale. We are very particular concerning the quality of breeding stock we make available to our customers. To market cull animals, we have developed a retail highland beef business, selling to individuals and restaurants. In fact, we are one of only a handful of cattlemen in the United States that have their own USDA beef label and quality control program for beef raised without hormones or antibiotics. More information is available concerning our breeding program and philosophy and management at this website. For more detailed information please call us at our toll free number (800) 639-0847. Home | Philosophy | Management | Articles | Sires Breeding Stock For Sale | Stock Wanted | Meat Prices |