Shorefield

Shorefield Bullocks between Port Ban and Bruichladdich this morning

Shorefield bullocks this morning

My favourite cattle and my favourite view!! - Carl

Am Boireannach a Dh'ith Bò (The Woman Who Ate A Cow)

Transmission 4th November 9pm, BBC Alba and repeated 6th November 10pm

Watch a clip here:  http://www.caledonia.tv/productions/full-catalogue/video.aspx?id=1530

Toads and Water Buffaloes from George

Thanks to George for these shots of a rather splendid toad and one of the Shorefield Highlanders pretending to be a Water Buffalo up behind his house.

Corncrakes and the Shorefield bullocks

The Shorefield bullocks are still enjoying their summer holiday in the field behind George's house.

We will be cutting up and packing the first two bullocks that were slaughtered on 18th May next week and then each  will be distributed to four customers as four equal quarters. 

Two more will be going to the abattoir on 16th June, and then they will be hung for three weeks which means that they will be ready for another set of customers in the middle of July.  We still have three 'spare' quarters from these second bullocks - so if you are interested please get in touch...  We are currently working out the best way of shipping to the mainland.

While we were up feeding them earlier today, we heard a Corncrake calling from the rough ground beyond the newest of George's two 'scrapes' that he excavated for duck and waders behind his house.

The yellow bucket contains a mineral lick which the cattle enjoy.  They probably don't need it from a dietary point of view, but they love the sweetness of it....
Carl

The Shorefield Project - Am Boireannach a Dh'ith Bò (The Woman Who Ate A Cow)

A documentary about how to cook and eat an entire cow is Caledonia TV's latest commission for BBC ALBA. 'Am Boireannach a Dh'ith Bò' (The Woman Who Ate A Cow) will feature Islay born artist and cook, Heather Dewar, as she reveals how previous generations ate animals from head to tail, never wasting a scrap of meat. Today, only half the meat from a carcass ends up on the supermarket counter - but not so long ago meals made of offal were welcomed by hungry families. The programme will follow Heather as she selects and buys a Highland bull, sees it slaughtered and butchered, and cooks all the parts that modern diners turn their noses up at.

We are very pleased to say that Heather has chosen to go with one of the beasts from the Shorefield Project for the programme, and today was the, frankly uncomfortable day, when the animal was taken to be slaughtered at the Avonvoggie Abattoir on Islay. The producers of the programme are keen to portray as realistic and honest a view as possible of the process that culminates with meat on our plates.

The beast to be featured was taken with one of his fellow Highlanders early this morning on a short, stress-free journey to Avonvoggie in a 'float'. Both were completely calm and had no idea about what lay ahead. John and Tim, the two slaughtermen and Beth the vet, were totally professional and the deed was done instantaneously and humanely. Heather, who is truly passionate about the quality and provenance of her food in general and her meat in particular, was in attendance throughout.

Caledonia TV Producer Les Wilson filming one of the beasts in the lairage at the abattoir.



Heather watches John preparing to dispatch the beast.



Les filming John and Tim removing the hide prior to evisceration.

Once the carcass has been prepared it is split in half using a powered bandsaw

Veterinary surgeon Beth stamps the carcass once her inspections have been completed.

Heather discusses the cooking of offal and some of the less fashionable parts of the beast such as ox-tail

Shorefield cattle escape technique

Readers of this blog will recall that the Highland cattle at Shorefield near Bruichladdich had a propensity for escaping despite the best efforts of James Brown and Carl reinforcing the fences. The other day, I saw these signs of what may have been one of their escape techniques. In order to reduce the painful effects of clambering over/through barbed wire fencing, do they perhaps first deliberately rub against it to cover up the barbs!
Malcolm

Thrift at the Shorefield

A Jurach joins the Shorefield Project

This rather magnificent bullock from Jura has arrived at Octomore.  He will join the Shorefield project at some point...

Shorefield Project - feeding the cattle

James took us up to feed the Highlanders today, distributing a bag of cake to the grateful beasts.  The bullocks had some very dramatic arguments over who should get the most, with much rushing about, clashings of horns and snorting, but it was all just handbags really. 

The idea behind the regular feeding is apparently as much to make them 'controllable' and come when called as it is to fatten them up.  There is still a lot of good grass so they are not short of something to eat.