The Mainland and Island breeds look very similar, but they have some distinctive differences.įor starters, Island Highland Cattle tend to be slightly smaller because they had less nutrients on the island. Both of these species originated in Scotland, though they were bred in different parts of the country. There are two varieties of Highland Cattle: Mainland and Island. Even the adult cattle are super cute because of their long code that cascades over their face and body. The calves are especially cute because they look almost like teddy bears. ![]() Appearance & VarietiesĪs we’ve already touched on, Highland Cattle have very distinctive looks. In addition to meat production, Highland Cattle are often used for showing purposes because of their beautiful and unique look. After all, the beef is very tasty and the animal itself is hardy. That to the side, Highland Cattle is still primarily used for meat, and high-quality beef at that. Today, Highland Cattle is still associated with high quality beef, but the need for high quality beef isn’t as high as it used to be. Historically, Highland Cattle have been primarily used as a high-quality meat source. It has a life expectancy of up to 20 years, in comparison to other cows with a life expectancy of 15 years. The females are even smaller, which is normal of most species.Īlthough smaller than other cows, the Highland Cattle breed has a much longer life expectancy than other breeds. To put that in perspective, many other bulls of different breeds are typically 5 feet tall. At most, a Highland bull is typically only four feet tall. In comparison to many other cattle types, the Highland Cattle breed is pretty small. The horns help the cattle scavenge for grass and other edible materials located underneath the snow. Highland Cattle have extremely long horns, too. Likewise, the double coat helps to protect the cattle from the rainy conditions common in the area since the oily top helps to wick away the moisture. The long, double coat helps the cattle to stay warm in the coldest of conditions. The coat is also double layered, with the outside being oily. This coat can come in many colors, but the most common are black and dun. It has long, wired, wavy, and woolly coats. The Highland Cattle breed is hard to overlook or miss. ![]() Some other names for this breed include the Long-Haired Highland Cattle, Long-Haired Scotting Cattle, North Highland Cattle, and Scottish Cattle. Historically, this breed has been of utmost economic importance and were primarily raised on small farms and sold as meat for England.īecause of their Scottish ancestry, the breed also has Scottish Gaelic and Scottish names, which are Bò Ghàidhealach and Hielan Coo, respectively. It is believed that the Highland Cattle descended from Hamitic Longhorns, which were brought over in the second Millennium BCE by Neolithic farmers. Both areas have pretty tough conditions, and the cattle evolved to be hardy and resistant to cold and wet weather as a result. The Highland Cattle breed originated from the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides, which are islands around the coast of Scotland. Highland Cattle Breed Origins Image Credit: 165106, Pixabay ![]() Worldwide, though most common in Scotland and the US Hardy, can withstand intemperate conditions Black, dun, red, ginger, yellow, white, gray, and silver
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