"Trondra" - Shetland
"Trondra" Herd - Tommy and Mary Isbister, Trondra, Shetland
It was in 1976 that we had the opportunity to take over the crofts at Burland, Trondra. We had always been interested in the native breeds of the Shetland Islands, but our first job had to be to build a new house and provide barns and fencincing etc. Then it was not long before we were looking for a Shetland cow to provide milk, butter and kirned milk (soft cheese) for our growing family.
We got quite a shock when we realised how difficult it was to find a pure bred Shetland cow, but eventually we found one for sale at Walls, a village on the other side of the Islands. It wasn't until after rigorous interrogation by her owner, Eleanor Hall, to see if we would make suitable owners, that we became the proud owners of a cow named Waterloo Dora (out of Araclett Doris) and her steer calf. The Trondra herd was registered in 1982. Our croft name of Burland was already in use as a prefix at that time and so "Trondra" was chosen instead. Trondra is the name of the island where Burland croft is, off the west coast of Shetland Mainland, near Scalloway. Burland is run along organic lines and management is kept as natural as possible.
We have only ever bred pure, except on one or two occasions when there was no Shetland bull available, or when we didn't think a particular cow would breed well. The first years of breeding proved to be very difficult, with no fertile bulls on the Island and with the artificial insemination material being old and unreliable. Eventually though, after years of working together with other dedicated breeders and the rare breed suurvival trust, things began to look up. All Trondra Shetland Cattle go back to that original cow Waterloo Dora and her sister Ida, who was also out of Araclett Doris, and all have been bred with milking in mind. It is important to keep the milkiness in the breed. We have always bred as much as possible towards the breed standard in the Herd Book and to breed for a fine head and horns. The herd has been predominantly black and white and of a sturdy type - believed to be due to the good grass and feed at Burland rather than a genetic type. The latest Trondra calves; Trondra Essa and Trondra Swan Songa, are also carrying on the tradition of all Trondra heifers being named with an "a" at the end of their names.
Photos, clockwise from top left: 1 & 2. Where is all began , with Waterloo Dora 3. Trondra Ria & calf 4. Collafirth Laxness, sire of Trondra Arrow 5. Trondra Arrow 6. Trondra Elsa on the left, with 2023 Walls show winner Trondra Swarta on the right 7. The last Trondra calves in 2023, Trondra Swan Songa on the left & Trondra Essa on the right
