![]() Sandy Mathers, who keeps 30 Highland cattle at his Lethenty Fold at Millview, Lethenty, Inverurie, bears this out: "You have to know each beast individually," he said. Our article Monarch of the But 'n Ben has a quote from a Scottish breeder which says it all. When the children were small we witnessed a number of occasions when the cattle intentionally lifted their horns out of the way to avoid contact. We raised four children on our farm and you will see by our photo galleries that they had a lot of interaction with the cattle. By following this regime we have never had a situation where an animal has shown aggression towards us. Therefore, commonsense dictates that cattle with large horns should be yarded in smaller numbers that allow for plenty of space for both the animals and the handlers. Occasionally this can lead to bullying within the animals themselves when yarded. There is no doubt that they have their "pecking order" within the herd. Their lean, tender, flavorful meat has a cholesterol at or lower than chicken.Temperament is everything and the general tendency is towards docility. Their docile nature made them easy to handle and train. Historically Highland cattle were bred for beef, high milk production, and docility as draught animals. Highland cattle are recognized today as a beef producing breed. The American Scotch Highland Breeder's Association was founded in South Dakota in 1948. The Highland Cattle Society of Scotland was formed in 1884 to "maintain the purity of the breed known as Highland Cattle and to establish a Herd Book in which to register their pedigrees." They are one of the oldest breed of continuously registered cattle in the world. ![]() They are thought to be descendants of primitive cattle raised in the Hebrides many centuries ago. Highland cattle originally came from Scotland in the British Isles. For bulls a wide level sweep of horns is preferred. They horns grow out, slightly forward and then swirl backward. The horns grow out, slightly forward, and then upward B. Horns on females usually fit one of two categories: A. They are noted for their quiet dispositions, superior intelligence and do not stress easily. Despite their long horns, they are gentle and easily handled. Highland beef meets consumer demands for lean, tender, flavorful meat with little or no waste.īoth males and females have horns. They also need a minimum of attention and are famed as easy and good mothers, thus keeping labor costs and vet's bills very low. Cows have great longevity, greatly reducing replacement costs. Because they stay healthy, very few adult cattle are lost to disease. Highland cattle are easy to work with, fun to be around, and easy for youngsters to show at the fair. Highland cattle are docile, low maintenance, and produce high quality meat. Their feed intake does not increase until 18º F as compared to 32º F for most breeds. Snow is slow to melt on their back because they lose little body heat through their long hair. Due to this unusual hair combination they have very little back fat. Highland cattle have a long hair outer coat to shed rain, a short furry under coat to keep them warm, and natural hardiness that allows them to out-winter easier and cheaper than other breeds. The long hair, along with a short undercoat, provides warmth in cold climates. ![]() When temperatures reach 18º or below, daily feed should be increased by 1% for each degree below the critical temperature (18º). Highland cattle can utilize a wide variety of feedstuffs but the nutrient intake, regardless of source, must be adequate. As browsers and brush clearers, Highlands are unsurpassed, eating what other cattle pass up. They forage readily where feed is sparse. Highland cattle require a minimum of management and care. Highland cattle are browsers rather than grazers. Highland cows often produce a calf every year up to 20 to 23 years old. Conception rate and survivability of calves to weaning age are both close to 100%. Cows display high fertility and regularity of calving. The average mature cow weighs between 900 - 1200 pounds. These colors can be combined with a dominant gene for dilution and create the colors yellow, light red, dun, and silver. The dominant colors are red, black, and brindle. The Canadian and United States societies also accept all the traditional colors. When the Scots formed their Society they did not restrict color. There are 7 recognized colors: red, black, brindle, yellow, dun, light red, and silver. Highland cows and calves are always paired. They make amazingly fast gains, especially under adverse conditions. Calves are vigorous at birth with a high survival rate. They calve without assistance 98.5% of the time. The calves' moderate bone structure and slim confirmation along with the cow's wide pelvic structure reduce calving problems such as caesarean and prolapse. Birth weights are usually 60 - 75 pounds.
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