Highland FAQ -

What is Highland Cattle?

Highland cattle (also known as longhorn, Hairy Coo or Hielan Coo) are an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and shaggy pelts.

What are the colors of Highland cattle?

• Red     
• Dun (Grayish or mouse colored) 
• Brindle (Red and black)  
• Silver (White hair with black skin underneath)    
• White (White hair with pink skin underneath)    
• Black
• Yellow

Where did Highland cattle come from?

As the name indicates, Scottish Highland Cattle have lived for centuries in the rugged remote Scottish highlands. The extremely harsh conditions created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed. Originally, there were two distinct classes: the slightly smaller and usually black Kyole, whose primary domain was the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland and the larger animal, generally reddish in color, whose territory was the remote highlands of Scotland. Today, both of these strains are regarded as one breed - the Scottish Highland.

Why would someone choose to raise Highland cattle?

Highlands are exceptionally beautiful. Compared to other cattle there are several reasons. They require little in the way of shelter, feed supplements, or expensive grains to achieve and maintain good condition and fitness. In fact, Highland cattle seem to enjoy conditions in which many other breeds would perish. Cold weather and snow have little effect on them. Less than ideal pasture or range land is another reason to consider the Highland breed. It has been said that the Highland will eat what other cattle pass by, and get fat on it! The Highland is also an excellent browser, able to clear a lot of brush with speed and efficiency. The Highland is a disease resistant breed, and they do not stress easily. Other bovine diseases affect the Highland less also, due to the genetic advantages they have achieved.