A New Year—Looking Back and a Look Forward: When the Heritage Shorthorn Society was started in 2018 its purpose was to provide an informational website that would help breeders of Heritage Shorthorns to preserve, promote, and produce the traditional pure Shorthorn genetics which were on the verge of being lost. Modern Shorthorn breed associations had moved on to crossbred cattle, primarily for the show ring with limited commercial appeal leaving true Shorthorns in the lurch. HSS has focused on the expansion and utilization of the many desirable genetic traits of Heritage Shorthorns that can have a positive impact on today’s cattle industry.
Photo taken at Glenisla Shorthorns, in Blairgowrie, Scotland
We did not imagine that within a relatively few years there would be so much “newly discovered” Heritage Shorthorn semen preserved in semen tanks throughout the U.S. and Canada, and that it would result in so many impressive Heritage Shorthorn offspring.
Interest in Heritage Shorthorn genetics is being embraced by Shorthorn enthusiasts around the world, and this has lead to an invitation to make a presentation about Heritage Shorthorns during the World Shorthorn Conference this coming July in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
All HSS members should be proud that their support of HSS, through membership, registrations, and donations of time & money, has resulted in this level of achievement/relevance for Heritage Shorthorns in all corners of the world. The future for Heritage Shorthorns is bright but only if each of our members promotes these cattle and encourages new purchasers to become members of HSS. With the support of HSS members interest in HS can continue to grow and thrive, and thereby increase the opportunities for each of you. Thank you HSS members.
Article #8 from Lonny Flack is the latest Cattle Viewpoints post. It is titled “A Shorthorn Heritage: Hodgepodge”, and Lonny highlights the far-reaching changes that were happening with the Shorthorn breed during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Are you looking for a simple action to impress the people who purchase your Heritage and Heritage-Influenced Shorthorns and to also encourage their repeat business at your farm/ranch? Gift them a 1 year membership in HSS. A first time membership only costs $40 and they get a 12 month membership plus a free book about Shorthorns written by Otis Fisher. You get lots of goodwill, and Heritage Shorthorns get a promotional boost by the purchase of additional national or regional ads.
A new Heritage Shorthorn ad is in the January 2025 edition of the Canadian Shorthorn Report. (See the ad below.) In thinking about ads to promote your Heritage Shorthorns, if you have a suggestion about where HSS might spend its advertising dollars during 2025, please send your suggestion to the HSS office.
