The Animals at the Ranch
HIGHLAND CATTLE
Here at Thunderstorm Ranch we breed Registered Highland Cattle. Our ladies are registered with the American Highland Cattle Association which follows strict regulations similar to the requirements of the Scottish associations. Scottish Highlands can be traced back to the 6th century with the official herd book dated in 1885.
A herd of Highland Cattle is traditionally referred to as a “fold” because they were kept in open shelters built of stone called folds at night to provide a windbreak. They have an unusual coat of longer oily hair over a shorter downy undercoat. This combination repels water and insulates against cold. Because they are insulated by their coat, Highland beef is more lean than other cattle which insulate themselves with fat. Both males and females have horns which are used to scrape snow away to forage on vegetation below. Horns have blood flow unlike an antler which is dropped every year. The blood flow to their horns helps regulate body temperature.
Highland Cattle in general have gentle dispositions and can be halter trained. They are excellent mothers and will dote on their offspring well into their adulthood. Highland bulls are also usually pretty gentle in temperament. This said, remember to never enter a pasture where there are animals that you don’t know.
Our fold of cattle is our first foray into bovines. We are incredibly grateful to the local Reynolds family for sharing their knowledge and giving us cattle handling experience while we learned about health and management.
Are Scottish Highland Cattle right for you? We sure think so. Wether you are interested in a pasture pet or homestead animal, these cattle deliver. In Scotland they were all purpose bovine used for meat and milk. They produce around 2 gallons per day making them sufficient for personal use and may have up to 10% butterfat. Before modern machinery they were used as draft animals. Their long hair can be spun into yarn or twine. If you are curious about highland meat it is currently available for purchase from Diamond L Ranch and can be purchased a the Old Fashioned Fruit and Veg stand on Avalon St. in Kuna.
Additionally, our lovely ladies have wonderful temperaments.
MINI DONKEYS
Meet Monte and Manny! Our newest addition to Thunderstorm Ranch are our two mini Donkeys.
We first experienced burros in Colorado years ago in Crested Butte and Leadville and heard that Pack Burrow Racing was a thing and that we needed to try it. Fortunately for us, we were introduced to Barb Dolan and Don Mann. You may recognize these names if you have had the pleasure of reading Running with Sherman! Barb and Don had a few extra burros at the time and were generous to allow us to give racing a try. Through burro racing we learned how intelligent and tough these animals can be but also how sweet and personable. Although minis aren’t cut out for long races, the same qualities that we fell in love with are still there!
Mini Donkeys are their own species meaning that their small size is natural. Many other types of mini animals are bred for small stature by consistently breeding the smallest animals over many generations. They are sweet, gentle and extremely intelligent. This intelligence in conjunction with their cautious nature may give them the reputation of being stubborn. Spending time with them and exposing them to new things builds confidence in them and trust in you. They are very social and form bonds with each other and humans as well.
Monte and Manny provide an excellent farm experience for very small children or individuals who may be more nervous around our large animals. They are great for children and adult get togethers. So wether you are wanting to host the ultimate kids birthday party, company picnic or special visitors to vacation bible school; we can make it happen. For adult parties and weddings we partner with “Swiggy the Bar”mobile bar to supply all of your beverage needs. Their small size make them easy to travel with so the party can come to you!
CHICKENS AND DOGS
In addition to area wildlife that occasionally wanders through our property you will have a chance to meet our brood of chickens and our two wonderful Rhodesian Ridgebacks. All our animals are extremely friendly and ready to meet you!
