Shaggy Girls turning heads in Southeast Texas

Cuteness abounds at Shaggy Girls Cattle Company, but don’t let these adorable Scottish Highland cows fool you. These bushy bovines are becoming big business in the ranching industry.

There are 78 Texas farms registered with the American Highland Cattle Association, including Shaggy Girls, which is located in Liberty, Texas. Tara Henne, owner of Shaggy Girls and a member of Capital Farm Credit, said they are becoming increasingly popular.

“One reason that Highland cattle have become popular is because of their docile temperaments, which makes them easier to handle for just about anyone,” Henne said. “That is what makes them a perfect choice for Shaggy Girls, with it being just myself and my mom. They are easily manageable for us on our own. Although, it does help that they have all been socialized from birth and are halter trained.”

Their small size, compared to some of the other cattle breeds, not only increases their ease of manageability, but also makes them the perfect choice for smaller, hobby farms that may not have large pastures, she said.

“The Highland cows are efficient foragers, able to graze on rough, sparse pasture and browse on shrubs and woody plants that many other breeds would avoid. This trait makes them well-suited for marginal lands or sustainable, low-input farming systems,” she said.

Shaggy Girls has been in operation since February 2024. Earlier this year the company was awarded $1,000 as a finalist in the Rising Star category of the GROW your AgriRoots Contest. She also had the opportunity to take part in CFC’s Emerging Leaders Institute where she presented her business plan and learn more about tax deductions for her operation.

“Through this experience, I learned a great deal about where I wanted my business to go and how I was going to get there,” she said. “It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet several great people involved with making Capital Farm Credit a great organization that really cares about the farmers and ranchers in Texas.”

CFC Relationship Manager Travis Mann has worked with Henne and even had his family visit the farm, grooming the animals and learning more about them. Like Henne, Mann moved to Texas from the west coast and was excited that Henne has a similar passion for agriculture.

“At my previous association I had a large dairy customer who had a Scottish Highlander breeding pair and calf, so I was very excited when I reached out to Tara and learned that she was wanting to grow her operation with such a unique breed,” Mann said. “I remember Tara’s surprise when I was at the closing and how appreciative she was with the support and attention CFC provides through the land purchase process.”

Henne found CFC after an extensive search to find someone to finance her land purchase and operations.

“I spent a great deal of time reading the informative articles on the website. This helped me gain knowledge of what to expect when buying property and helped me feel confident that I did have options to pursue in finding a piece of property that would allow my farm to grow,” she explained. “After speaking with them, I felt that they were truly on my side in finding the right financing option that would fit within my budget and still allow me to find the perfect piece of land.”

After purchasing a house with five acres and her cattle, she found that she was quickly outgrowing her operation. She called it a miracle when she was asked if she would like to buy 20 acres connected to her current pasture.

“Having direct access to more property where I could monitor my cattle was the ideal situation; however, I wasn’t sure that I could afford so much acreage,” she said. “That is where Capital Farm Credit stepped in and was able to offer several different lending options that helped me find one that fit my budget the best. Without them, I would not have been able to buy the ideal piece of property and have the space to be able to expand my herd twice over, fast tracking the success of my farm.”

Why Highlands in Texas?

“It seems that everywhere you go you see Highland décor and clothing in stores. This has created more public familiarity with the breed and has created a frenzy on social media,” she said. “The popularity of the Highland cattle has drawn hundreds of people to start their own farms – the same reason why I started Shaggy Girls. The demand for Highlands is so high that calves, yearlings, and cows of all ages are selling for outrageous prices.”

Henne said it is expensive to get started but costs can be recouped by breeding and selling calves.

“The excessive cost of Highlands is one reason I focus strongly on my embryo program. By using a normal beef cow bought at a much lower price, I can produce Highland calves at a lower cost and have a higher return on my investment by selling them at higher prices,” she said. “Starting out, this allows me to generate income necessary to buy equipment, build necessary infrastructure, and to buy quality, high priced breeding stock that will set my farm up for a successful future.”

Having Highland cows in the hot, humid climate of southeast Texas hasn’t been without its challenges. The heat creates a short window for breeding and calving, and the cows can be susceptible to heat stress. Therefore, adequate shelter and water management is key, Henne said.

“In other parts of the country, they do have to be concerned with both the heat and cold, but they are able to have two calving seasons – one in the spring and another in the fall – unlike we are able to do here in Southeast Texas.”

Another issue she has come across is the need for emergency, after-hours veterinary care in the area where she lives. When her calf was suffering from heat stress last April, she had to take a five-hour round trip to the Texas A&M Large Animal Hospital.

Highland cattle are slower growing compared to commercial beef breeds. While their meat is desirable for its leanness, flavor, and marbling, it takes longer to reach market weight, which can be a disadvantage in conventional beef production systems focused on rapid turnover.

Finally, Highland cows are known for their ease of calving and strong maternal instincts, which can reduce the need for human intervention during birth. Other breeds, especially those selected for larger size or higher productivity, may experience more calving difficulties and require closer monitoring during the calving season, she said.

Sharing all that cuteness with others

As Shaggy Girls grows, Henne would like to open her operations for agritourism, such as luncheons, farm tours, photoshoots, yoga with the Highlands and more.

One idea she is excited about is hosting “paint and sip” events, where a paint instructor would lead a group in a painting of highland cows and provide wine, all while sitting in a field surrounded by cows.

“Another idea that I am passionate about is to bring a few of my younger heifers to visit retirement homes,” she said. “I would also like to get involved in the community and take part in Liberty’s city summer block party by bringing a few of my heifers for people to interact with and to provide education on the breed to kids and adults alike.”

Henne said her Highlands have unique personalities and have a curious nature, acting more like children than cows – possibly because they have been handled since they were young. They love to play and turn just about anything into a toy.

“Some of the funniest moments that we have shared are when the feed shed door was left open and one of my heifers got caught with her head in the treat bucket or when the door to the bed shavings shed was open and I found one of my heifers covered in shavings from head to toe from playing in the pile,” she recalled.

Home schoolers, local contractors, neighbors and their grandchildren drop by to visit the cows and get very excited when visiting the farm and interacting with the cattle.

“They are knowledgeable about cows in general, but when they see how shaggy and friendly my heifers are, they just light up and ask a stream of questions,” Henne said. “We also take time to educate them about the breed specifically and create a hands-on educational experience for them as well.”

Being able to share her passion with others is fulfilling and a driving factor behind Shaggy Girls’ desire to enter the agritourism business.

“The thing that makes my heart the happiest though is when I see them running in the field, tails in the air, kicking their heels up. That lets me know that they are happy and content in the environment I have created for them.”

As their operation grows, CFC will be with them every step of the way.

“Even after they earned my business, CFC continues to reach out with opportunities to gain added knowledge in the agricultural industry and programs that can help me save money,” Henne said. “I feel like they truly care and think of me when opportunities arise that I could benefit from. Even though I know I am not the only customer they reach out to, it still feels very personable.”