"Hjem" - Shetland
"Hjem" Herd - Laurie Manson, Skeld, Shetland
The Hjem herd was first started by Laurie's Grandfather, John Robert Manson, not long after taking over the croft from Maggie Murray. Maggie did have a Shetland cow on the croft but, unfortunately, it was sold away and didn't stay with the croft. The Hjem (pronounced Haym and meaning home) herd was originally started with a couple of Shetland cross cows from John's aunt in Orkney. By 1986 though, the Hjem herd was registered with the Shetland Cattle Herd Book Society after the purchase of his first pure bred registered Shetland Cow from Bertie Moar of Murrister. That first cow, the foundation of the Hjem herd, was Murrister Jane. Murrister Jane went on to give the herd two heifers, Hjem Annie and Hjem Hannah - both by Murrister Pete. Hjem Annie went on to produce Hjem Lowrie (by Boxmoor Fearless) in 1990 who ended up with 60 projeny registered in the herd book for the Lewis, Easterhouse, Islesburgh, Houlland, Fetlar, Littlester, St Trinians and Tollesbury Wick herds. Quite a Hjem legacy! Hjem Lowrie's last calf was registered in 2003.
Unfortunately, the Hjem herd had to take a back seat as life got more hectic with pressures of work commitments and eventually wound down. Sadly, it didn't get to se in the 21st century. It is still possible though to see the Hjem cows in the herd books of that time, a real link to the past for Laurie.
With his mother, Lauraine Manson, also keeping Shetland cattle in the 19090s (the Arg herd) I suppose you can see why Laurie has always been keen on them,with the Hjem herd starting up again in 2019, when Laurie wanted to get away from "chasing sheep" and into cattle. He chose Shetland Cattle over other breeds because they are native to Shetland and because they are light on the ground - to say nothing of them being in his blood.
Being interested in the older bloodlines and herds that have breeding true to type for a long time, Laurie counts himself as lucky to have been able to source his first cow from Norman Leask who was gradually reducing the Geldron herd at the time. Geldron Vynd proved to be a good buy & who, in 2023, won the Supreme Cattle Championship at Walls Show, as well as being judged the Champion of the Shetland breed; not bad for a sixteen year old.
As well as being true to type and the breed standards, with good conformation, Laurie would always look for milkiness in a Shetland cow. He has been pleased to be able to add some Trondra animals to the Hjem herd from Mary and Tommy Isbister, who have always bred with milkiness in mind. Of course, a good temperament is important too, especially with children about.
The kye are kept in the traditional way in winter, being stall tied in the byre. The aim is to get calving done before turnout in spring. There are all sorts of colours in the Hjem herd, but by preference Laurie would go for black or grey/blue, solid coloured and with black feet. Flecked legs are another plus. Having said that about preferring black animals, the Hjem herd had its first 2024 calf just a day ago - he's a pure white bull calf, certainly solid coloured and out of a blue & white cow by a blue bull; an unusual one!
Photos, clockwise from top left: 1. Maggie Murray 2. The Shetland cross cows 3 & 4. John Robert Manson & the early days of the Hjem herd 5. A young Hjem Hinder 6. Geldron Vynd, champion at Walls show at 16 years of age 7. Geldron Vynd & heifer calf 8. Some of the Hjem Herd on the hill.
