The Scottish Highland Cow –

Our homestead cattle breed of choice.

Two questions may come to mind when you read this.

What is a Scottish Highland cow and why pick that kind over more familiar types of cattle, like, say, Angus or Holsteins?

First – what are Scottish Highland cattle?

They are a medium sized breed by cattle standards. A mature adult Highland cow’s average weight is 900 to 1,200 pounds. Colors range from Red, black, to yellow, dun, white, brindle and even silver. They have long, flowing, 2 layer coats, sweeping handlebar horns, and long shaggy hair covering their eyes.  They have shorter legs, which means less foot problems, and a wide carriage.

Photo2009 by Jane Strauss of cattle in MO

Highland Cattle originated in the northwest part of Scotland and were brought to the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century. They are the oldest registered breed in the U.S. The first Highland herd book was established here in 1884 They are considered by many to be the oldest and most pure breed cattle left. While they recently have been removed from the rare breed list of the American Livestock Breed Conservancy they remain on the “watch list”.

Second – why pick these animals to live at Dear Creek Retreat?

Highland cattle will thrive on less than ideal pasture or range land. These cattle are excellent browsers, quite able to clear a lot of brush with speed and efficiency. This means that the cattle can be put out to graze in a forested area, such as we have, and they will eat all the underbrush making for a healthier forest. (Most cattle will not eat such material) meaning we can spend more time mending fence and less time cutting grass & weeds.

Highland Cattle are much easier to keep because they do not require a barn or much direct care. They require little in the way of shelter, feed supplements, or expensive grain to achieve and maintain good condition. This is good because we don’t have much in the way of a barn to keep them in. and, since they forage so well, they will not need someone to get up at the ‘crack-of-dawn’

Photo 2009 by Jane Strauss of dun cow and calk owned by Kirsten in MN

They respond well to human contact. They love being brushed, can be halter trained, and some even allow riders. Bottle fed calves will become attached to “their” feeders and will follow them around even after the calf grows to an adult. They are quite gentle and, as long as you “mind the horns” harmless to humans, making them good around children.

The British Royal family keeps a large herd of Highlands at Balmoral Castle, near Braemar, Scotland, and considers them their beef animal of choice. What better endorsement for a cow?

Finally, they are just incredibly, well, cute. They are either fuzzy teddy bears with long legs or the biggest Peruvian guinea pigs I’ve seen.

Photo 2009 by Jane Strauss of brown calf owned by Kirsten in MN

Text 2009 by Rex Bryant, Dear Creek Retreat, Oakland, AR