![]() ![]() Highland cattle make excellent companions due to their laid back demeanor and easy going personality, which makes them desirable among many farmers and ranchers alike. As long as adequate space is provided for roaming, these placid creatures will remain content within their environment. ![]() They form strong bonds with those who spend time around them and build trust quickly by responding positively to interactions and commands. The good-naturedness of highland cattle means that they rarely pose any danger to humans if handled correctly. Such aggression is usually directed at other livestock in an enclosure but may also manifest itself through the use of horns to ward off predators or intruders. While they can be quite gentle with people, highland cattle have been observed to become aggressive when faced with unfamiliar situations or animals. Their serene nature makes them well suited to small, confined spaces such as a farm or home setting. Highland cattle are known for their docile temperament and calm disposition. They usually stand up to 48 inches tall at their shoulder, sometimes taller if allowed to graze freely over rough terrain as opposed to being confined in paddocks or fields where grasses tend not to grow so vigorously.Īlthough traditionally used as draught animals in Scotland due to their strength, today they are kept mainly as ornamental stock on large estates or smallholdings however, some farmers still choose them for producing quality lean beef that tends to be lower in saturated fats than other types of beef cattle because of its unique genetics. The size of these hardy beef type cattle vary greatly within different populations but typically they range between 500-1000 pounds when fully mature at around two years old. Highland cattle’s hair also grows longer during winter months for insulation against cold temperatures. It can range in color from black to red to yellowish brown, although some breeds may be white or piebald. ![]() The coat of highland cattle is thick, double-coated and generally shaggy. Their head is broad with a strong forehead and well-defined muzzle. They have long horns which curve upwards and outwards from the skull, varying in length between 24-36 inches depending on the breed. Highland cattle are best known for their distinct physical characteristics. Furthermore their sturdy stature coupled with long horns make them particularly well-suited for outdoor grazing and herding purposes even today. They typically possess two layers of fur – a coarse outer coat overlain by a soft undercoat – enabling them to survive extreme weather conditions without requiring additional feed supplements. Today’s Highland cows are widely recognised as one of Britain’s oldest native breeds having evolved through natural selection rather than human intervention alone. Thus over time, distinct varieties developed including West Highlanders, East Highlanders and North Country Cheviots among others. This enabled farmers to produce animals adapted to specific conditions or preferences such as colouring or size. In earlier times, small herds wandered freely on unfenced farms throughout the Highlands and Islands region before selective breeding began during the 19th century. Their lineage can be traced back hundreds of years, providing evidence that the modern Highland cow is a direct descendant of its wild ancestor – the primitive European aurochs – which went extinct in 1627.Īs their name implies, Highland cattle originated exclusively in Scotland. Originating from Scotland’s isolated and rugged Highlands, they have been bred for centuries by local farmers to thrive in harsh climates with sparse vegetation. Highland cattle are an ancient, ancestral breed of Scottish cattle. As this article will discuss further, these various roles make Highland Cattle an increasingly attractive option for farmers looking for a hardy but manageable breed of livestock to raise. In addition to their thick coats, Highlanders also have large curved horns which grow upwards from their heads and can reach lengths up to 3 feet (90 cm) long.ĭespite being among the oldest domesticated breeds still in existence today, Highland Cattle remain versatile animals with many uses including meat production, milk production, show animals and general farm work such as clearing brush. The resulting hybrid cows had thicker coats than other breeds that allowed them to survive in harsher climates such as highlands where temperatures could drop below -20☌ for weeks at a time. Highland cattle originated in Scotland during the 1700s when they were bred from local wild stock known as ‘Kyloes’ or primitive Scottish cattle. Their distinctive shaggy coat, long horns, and typically docile temperament have earned them a place in popular culture as well as on farms around the world. Highland cattle are one of the oldest and most recognizable breeds of domestic cattle.
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