Ennerdale Advantage

Our Mission

We established the Ennerdale Fold in 2001 after a period of three years intensive research to find and source Highland females with the best genetics in Australia while identifying suitable Sires with the best genetics throughout the world.

We aim to provide premium quality Highland Beef for the butcher and elite Highland seed genetics for the stud owner.  We also promote the qualities of the Highland breed in Australia.   

Championing superior characteristics of quality stock

From the beginning, we have ensured Ennerdale have been breeding Highland Cattle who are superior in three important areas:

• Temperament
• Structure  
• Muscling

In particular, the females which we selected were of an elite quality, with large eye muscles and high meat-to-fat-to-bone ratios. We established the male genetics through an Artificial Insemination (A.I.) program to ensure premium quality, fault-free bloodlines. 

We found that the best of the A.I. Sires originated from overseas. Through continuing research, we then assessed the candidate bulls' parents and offspring.

From our research, we were able to establish the highest quality of temperament, structure, muscling, and execute exclusion of crop ear in the A.I. Sires that we eventually selected.

At Ennerdale, we select each sire for a specific purpose and match that sire to an individual female to ensure we produce elite offspring.  If we have not used a particular A.I. Sire in the Ennerdale breeding program, there is a very good reason.  

We rigorously assess our young Highland Cattle throughout the first 18 months, with the elite animals joining the breeding program in time. We transfer any animal that does not make the High standard set to the premium Highland Beef program. The premium beef commands a premium price at a Sydney metropolitan boutique butchery chain.

The Ennerdale name means quality, consequently, we keep only very small numbers of bulls – each bull has a specific purpose and must be the best example to promote the Highland Breed and the Ennerdale Fold. In the 14th year history of the Ennerdale Fold, we have kept a total of six Highland Bulls which were assessed as having the premium quality required to carry the Ennerdale name forward. 

This rigorous selection process means “if you have the genetics of an Ennerdale Bull, a guarantee of the highest quality is assured.”

The provenance of stud and premium beef cattle is an important issue, and all Ennerdale calves are DNA tested after birth to guarantee their parentage and provenance.  

We have registered a small number of Ennerdale Highland Cattle in both the United Kingdom and Australian herd book, which means the progeny of UK registered Ennerdale stock are eligible for registration in the UKHCS herd book when sired by a UK recognised Sires, such as Ceallach of Ennerdale and Aodhair of Ennerdale, or an approved UKHCS A.I. bull.

The Ennerdale fold is small compared to other Scottish Highland Folds in Australia and around the world.  Our emphasis is strongly “Quality not quantity” with our desire to breed the very best of the Highland Breed in Australia.  

We have achieved unrivalled successes in the show ring over a ten year period, this means all the Ennerdale Breeding stock are champions in their own right. These include Royal Show Supreme Exhibits, Senior and Junior Champions and Two National Show Supreme Exhibits, all from a small breeding herd of currently around 15 high quality females and two outstanding stock bulls.

Rounding up our cattle is effortless!

Package of Show Winners

2011 AHCS National Show Winners 

An outstanding attendance recorded for the AHCS with 12 breeders attending, travelling from as far South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. One of the largest gatherings of Highland Cattle in Australia for many years. 

Ennerdale won the following:

More Achievements

Champion Highland Cattle Stud achievements by composing 'SHOW PACKAGES' OF WINNERS from the last four shows we were able to attend. 

This unparalleled success has been the result of many years of selecting only the elite genetics for our breeding programme and breeding from only the best cows and carefully selecting the right sire for each dam.

Our cattle do not only perform on the paddock, but also on the plate and in the ring. When you work with Ennerdale, you will not just be working with quality cattle, but also be working with the champions!