Culfoich is a 1835 hectare hill farm in Strathspey,
Morayshire on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park and
at the centre of Malt Whisky Country in the Highlands of
Scotland. Grazing land rises to over 1200 feet with the
lower areas bordering the River Spey, one of the best Salmon
fishing rivers in Britain, for over a mile.
The farm has been
tenanted in its present size by Jim McConachie since 1969.
Stock numbers reached around 125 cross cows and 1200 black
faced ewes until the mid 1990's when more Highland Cattle
were retained at the expense of the cross cows. Stock
numbers have been reduced gradually since then to more
manageable numbers hence removing the reliance on expensive
artificial fertilisers and bought in feedstuffs
There are over 100 pure Highland cattle on the farm
at present and it is a closed herd of High Health Status.
The Culfoich fold was founded with the
purchase of an Achnacloich bred cow in 1992. Following this
we purchased a few select cows and heifers from Innisard, Scourie,
Shenavallie, Tordarroch, Millerston and West Merkland.
Artificial Insemination was used initially – mainly from
Douneside and Tinto bulls.
The main foundation Stock bull used in the early
days of the fold was Exhibit 2nd of Auch (see picture on Highlanders page)
which was purchased privately from the Knox’s at Innisard in 1999.
He proved to be tremendous breeder of foundation heifers and is the
sire behind many of the cows in the Fold today. His first son Orison
of Culfoich was Male champion at Oban in 2004 and sold
to the Murray Cooper fold for 4200 guineas. He then went on to be
Male champion at the Royal Highland, Yorkshire and Royal Shows.
Heifers from Exhibit have sold up to 3100gns, 3000gns (3 times) in
2004 and 2005
