Facts You Must Know (But Perhaps Don't) About Highland Cattle

Holy Cow!

Highland cattle are the oldest registered cattle breed in the world. They can withstand the harshest conditions and seem almost immune to disease. They also live longer and produce more calves than most other breeds.

Highland cattle come from the rugged Scottish Highlands, close to the Arctic Circle. They have adapted brilliantly to tough mountain conditions, freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and biting winds. You will often spot them grazing on steep hillsides. Today, farmers raise them mainly for their lean, tender, and flavorful meat.

Their secret weapon is a double coat. The outer layer is made of long, coarse hair, about 13 inches long. The inner layer is soft and woolly. Together, they keep the animal warm and dry without needing extra feed. The long fringe over the eyes is called the 'dossan'. No other cattle breed has this feature.

Most cattle breeds store extra fat under the skin to stay warm in winter. Highland cattle do not need to do that. In fact, Highlands do not increase their feed intake until the temperature drops to −18 degrees F, while other breeds start eating more at 32 degrees F. That is why Highland beef tends to be leaner than most other beef.

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Bos taurus
Family: Bovidae
Common Names: Hairy cow, Scottish Highland cattle, Scotch Highland cattle, Highland cattle or Highlanders
Diet: Herbivore; mainly consists of grass, leaves, and flowers
Native Place: Scotland
Habitat: Mountainous and wet grasslands
Height: 0.9 - 1.1 m (3 - 3.5 ft)
Weight: 400 - 1,000 kg (882 - 2,204 lbs)
Top Speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
Lifestyle: Herd
Conservation Status: Least concern

Life Expectancy: 15 - 22 years
Average Litter Size: One
Predators: Human beings, wolves, and coyotes
Characteristic Feature: Long, thick, flowing coat and large, curved horns
Color: Tan, brown, black, brindled, red, yellow, dun, silver-white, or orange

Highland Cattle Breed Facts

Most groups of cattle are called 'herds', but a group of Highlands has its own special name, a 'fold'.

There were once two strains of the breed. The smaller, black or brindled cattle from the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland were called 'Kyloe'. The larger, mostly reddish cattle came from the remote Scottish Highlands. Today, both strains are considered one breed, simply called Highland.

Because of their thick double coat, Highland cattle do not need expensive barns or heated shelters. Their oily outer hair sheds rain and snow naturally. They are also easy to handle and gentle around people.

Highlands can survive without costly feed supplements or special grain. Many other breeds could not live in the cold, wet conditions that Highland cattle thrive in. They have been raised in places as remote and cold as Alaska and the Scandinavian countries.

In warmer places, Highlands simply grow a thinner coat. That makes them suitable for any part of the United States. Despite their northern origins, they adapt well to the south. They are raised as far south as Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. Records show that they were first imported into the United States in the late 1890s.

In Scotland, the Highland cattle registry was established in 1885. Archaeological evidence shows the breed existed as far back as the sixth century, and written records mention them as early as the twelfth century. Today, they are found across America, Europe, and Australia.

In the United States, the American Scotch Highland Breeders Association was formed in August 1948. The name was changed to the American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) in 1992.

What Do Highland Cattle Eat?

Breeders say that Highlands eat what other cattle walk right past. They are excellent browsers and clear brush quickly. They love grass, but they also eat fresh young leaves from bushes, oak leaves, cedar saplings, and even pine needles. By eating every leaf within reach, they create a visible line on the trees called a browse line.

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Calves and Reproduction

Highland calves are small when they are born, they weigh just 40-60 pounds. But Highland cows are highly fertile and give birth with very little help from farmers. A cow can produce a calf every year, since the gestation period is nine months. She can keep having calves up to the age of 19, which is much longer than most breeds. Even in tough conditions, conception rates stay high.

Those Magnificent Horns

A Highland cow's horns grow outward and then curve upward, with the tips pointing toward the sky. A bull's horns are different, they curve outward and forward along the sides of his face, with the tips staying low.

Calves are born with tiny 'nubs' no bigger than a fingertip. By the time a heifer is one year old, her horns have already grown to about 5-7 inches.

The horn spread of an older cow can be 3 - 4 feet wide. Horns help determine the age of the growing calf.

Size and Temperament

A mature Highland cow weighs between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Bulls are bigger, they can weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. Exact size depends on what the animal has to eat.

Do not be fooled by those big horns. Highland cattle are calm and even-tempered. They can be halter-trained just as easily as any other breed and are known to be intelligent, gentle, and cooperative.

Highlands are also remarkably disease-resistant. Their long lashes and dossan fringe protect their eyes from flying insects, so pinkeye and cancer eye are almost unheard of in the breed. They do not get stressed easily in harsh conditions, which means stress-related illnesses are rare too. Their ability to adapt to extreme weather is a big reason they live so long.

For more than two decades, Highland cattle and Highland crosses have topped their classes at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a group of Highland cattle called?

A fold

What is the Highland cattle's eye fringe called?

Dossan

When were Highland cattle first imported to the United States?

In the late 1890s

How much leaner is Highland beef compared to other beef?

About 40% lower in fat and cholesterol

What is the scientific name of Highland cattle?

Bos taurus

Royal Highland Beef

In Britain, Highland beef is considered some of the finest available and is sold at high prices. The British Royal Family keeps a large herd of Highlands at Balmoral Castle, near Braemar, Scotland.

Highland cow milk is rich in butterfat, which makes it great for producing butter and cheese. A single Highland cow does not produce as much milk as a dedicated dairy breed, but she produces enough for her calf and her farmer.

Highlands mature more slowly than other breeds, and that is part of what makes their meat so good. The result is finely textured, tender, and juicy beef. A study by the Scottish Agricultural College found that Highland beef is about 40% lower in fat and cholesterol than standard beef, and it contains more protein and iron. Those qualities have made Highland cattle popular around the world.

Their hides are also valuable. Because of the long, colorful hair, they are used to make high-quality rugs and crafts.

The Highland breed developed through natural selection over many centuries. That process gave it remarkable survival qualities: hardiness, endurance, strong maternal instincts, reproductive efficiency, and a long lifespan. All of these make Highland cattle more profitable than most other breeds.

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