Reprinted from Country Folks New England
Frank Manafort turned to farming as a hobby, a weekend pastime and form of relaxation from his demanding Connecticut construction business. As he led a group on a tour of his farm in Weathersfield, VT on April 24, the pride in what he has accomplished, and his attention to details in raising quality Highland beef animals was evident.
Black Watch Farms is comprised of 235 acres that was mostly wooded, with 88
acres now converted to pasture. Manafort said if he had it to do over,
he would have bought open land. His first challenge was to clear some
pastures, and he relied on local consulting forester Steve Kraft to help
plan his clear cut.
A local construction company owned by Don Gurney helped him lay out drainage
tiles. They left about half the stumps in the ground, Manafort said, and
limed and fertilized then seeded with a pasture mix. He recently purchased
a Brilliant no till seeder. "We use rye to get it jump started," Manafort
said, and applies manure on a regular basis.
A local construction company owned by Don Gurney helped him lay out drainage tiles. They left about half the stumps in the ground, Manafort said, and limed and fertilized then seeded with a pasture mix. He recently purchased a Brilliant no till seeder. "We use rye to get it jump started," Manafort said, and applies manure on a regular basis.
What started as a weekend getaway and hunting lodge has turned into a showcase farm. Manafort also noted that he worked with the Audubon Society to create a heron rookery and has stocked a pond with 300 trout, to help attract herons. His appreciation for nature has now extended into animal husbandry.
Drive to Compete
The decision to raise high quality breeding stock and become active in
showing around the country was an easy transition for Manafort, who
recently retired from another hobby as a racecar driver. He earned a
national championship racing Legend cars
in 1996, and was ready to take up something less demanding, but that
still satisfied his drive to compete.
Some of the trophies that hang on his office wall include a Grand
Champion Female at the 2001 NWSS, a National Show Champion in the
Intermediate Yearling Heifer class and others.
The herd is now at 75 head. The majority are registered Highlanders but
Manafort has recently started some cross breeding with Black Baldies
(Hereford-Angus cross).
"I'm having fun with this." Manafort said, "experimenting to produce an ideal meat that consumers want." Highland beef tends to be about 90% lean.
The animals are taken to Moore Beef in St. Johnsbury for cutting and wrapping into retail packages with a farm label. The meat is sold as "all natural" and grass fed. The show animals have grain supplements.
The Highland Beef Breed
Manafort was prompted to raise Highland cattle because the breed is docile, easy to show, are natural foragers, and good at reclaiming pasture. He started his herd with three cows purchased from neighbor Ken Bishop.
"The market is going crazy for this beef," Manafort said. "People want a healthier meat." He is also selling animals for breeding stock and working to develop a reputation as having high quality animals. "Three years ago but I bought a long-legged bull, DH Excel from Drover Hill Farm in New York. He has more height and length, and is siring bigger calves than is typical for breed."
The dams are noted for good conception, easy calving and longevity, breeding up to 17 years or more. Their long shaggy outer coat covers a thick inner coat, so they do well in Northern climates without any housing.
There is a website with information about the Highland Cattle breed at http://www.highlandcattleusa.org. A Fall Show will be held in Springfield, MA, at the home of the "Big E", sponsored by the Northeast Highland Cattle Association. Manafort said last October there were more than 100 animals at this show.
He also took part last year in the National Western Stock Show in Denver where, he said, there were more than 200 head exhibited and more than 30 head sold at auction. "There were a lot of first time buyers there," he said as interest is growing in the breed.