American Highland Cattle Association: United States

[Coble_Highland_Ranch]

http://www.highlandcattleusa.org/

Of course, we have to mention the American.  You must be part of this organization to register highland cattle.

[KevinC]

Thanks for the link.  I used it today when applying for membership!

[Red Willow]

Kevin,
When you applied for membership to the AHCA, were you sponsored by anyone so your new membership for a first time Highland owner is half the price which is $30 instead of $60?
Most times the seller will sponsor you as a new member so the cost to you is only $30.
This is one of the benefits of sponsorship by buyers, it helps the new owner become a member easily.

[KevinC]

He discovered this and offered about a day after I had filed online.  I've received my membership packet since then.

If I understand correctly, I should pay a $25-$50 fee to have their registrations transferred to my name?  Seems a little stiff...

Given that I'll be raising these as the mothers of my future beef herd, I'm curious what registration would by me?  (Other than an "out" if for whatever reason I need to sell them in the future).

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Kevin

[YoungSproutFarms]

I think you will need to transfer the registration to be able to sell their offspring as registered. I know in looking for stock in the past, I was warned about buying heifers that both cow and bull was registered, but the owner had let his membership lapse. Stock born while not a member could not be registered.

Anyway, if these are your foundation herd, small cost of registering to insure your rights of ownership when registering offspring or if they get lost or stolen.

Also, you have a short period of time to register them at the low price, I think after 60 days the price goes up to register them. This is based on when you purchased them.

If you have questions, just call the Assoc. Office in Denver and they will help you and give you the answers you need. They are very nice and have taken the time to help me with things like this.

FYI - all this info is from memory and might not be as accurate as I remember. So feel free to correct me and be sure to follow up on calling the AHCA. 

[rmuntz]

I register every heifer born on the farm.  The cost is minimal considering that a registered heifer will sell for twice or more than an unregistered one.  When I started in highlands, I bought a herd of ten, of which three were registered, and the rest grade.  One of the grade cows, which could have been registered but for the lax paperwork by a prior owner, produced a beautiful heifer calf, rivaling any NWSS winner.  Since she was not registerable, she sold for beef price.  The initial cost of the animal is a very small part of the equation, when you consider feed and longevity.  A good cow will produce ten or more calves for you over her lifetime.  If her offspring sell for $1000 more per head than an average cow, she makes you $10000 more over her lifetime.  A few good cows will make you more money than a lot of mediocre cows.  We also DNA all heifers.  Buyers like it, and it makes the animals more salable.

This is not a sales pitch because AHCA makes money on registrations and DNA.  I am a director of AHCA and the chairman of the show committee, but these suggestions will help your bottom line.  If you are going to beef every animal that hits the ground, there is no need to do this.  But, if you want to sell breeding stock, the investment in registrations and DNA produces a handsome return.

[Red Willow]

This is a sound practice for Highland breeders to register their heifers by the time they are six months old.
I have found in the twenty years I have raised Highlands both in WI and MO that if you have good registerted Highland stock and offer the buyer a package deal when purchasing no first time buyer will go away without a registered Highland. 
It is always less expensive to get started with young registered animals than to wait till later and try to register the cow because she had that tremendous, exceptional heifer calf that you say can be registered, but in fact can't until the dam and sire are registered.  So why not start out with registered stock right away. 
I found that a good practice for myself for many years as a registered Highland breeder is to have the animals registered, halter trained, vaccinated when necessary for transfer over state lines, and the bulls DNA tested and have that all included in my price.  When the buyer comes to pick up the animal/s, he walks them to the trailer, and just pays for them.  I sponsor them as a new Highland breeder to the national registry and to the regional Highland assoc., pay for the transfer papers to their name and make copies of the registration papers for them as I will then send in the transfers and they will receive all the paperwork in their mailbox registered to them, the new buyer.  They don't have to do anything, and I guarantee you will have happy buyers as I have had numerous repeat buyers over the years and very satisfied customers. 

[KevinC]

Thanks everyone.  I really respect the need to register cattle if one plans on selling the offspring.  Since I'm planning on direct marketing the beef it sounds like there is little advantage for me to register either the (previously registered) parents or their offspring.

I am grateful that the parents were registered - its a great way to know exactly what I bought.