On Scaliscro we have a small traditional hill farm and run flocks of 300 Blackface ewes, 20 Hebridean Ewes and graze 40 head of Pedigree Highland Cattle. Each autumn young Highland bullocks and heifers are swum across the Isle of Little Bernera for wintering, and then either taken to market or returned to the Scaliscro breeding fold 

Many years ago the cattle on Little Bernera went wild and could not be gathered for 2 years even with a posse of 20 herdsman and the best cattle dogs on Lewis. The Strathclyde Army Corps assisted by building a stockade on the island, into which we tempted the cattle with regular feeding. We shut the cattle in using a rope strung across the sound, and all but one of the beasts broke out when we landed. It was a start, so the bullock was quickly taken across to the mainland. To our amazement early next morning we found the rest of the cattle had swam across to join the lone bullock. 

We then took all the cattle to market immediately for fear of losing them again. Alas, no butcher would buy them and claimed Highland cattle of this age were too strong for the local palate. All our beef has since been privately butchered and sold locally.