Highland cattle are one of the oldest registered breeds in the world, originating from the Scottish Highlands and the Western Islands of Scotland.
Originally there were two types of breed. A small mainly black animal, known as the Kyloe that would swim across the narrow straights from the Western Island to the mainland and a larger red animal from the mainland.
They formed an important part of the Scottish economy in the eighteenth century, being sold at the markets to drovers from England. Following into the late nineteenth century, they were exported to many places, including to Australia and Canada, then into Europe the following century and can be found in 23 countries around the world today.
Described as ‘almost as cold-tolerant as the arctic-dwelling caribou and reindeer,’ they thrive and breed on mountain land with high annual rainfall and bitter cold winds, an environment where no other cattle could exist. Being suited to a harsh climate has seen them successfully established in countries like Norway and Canada where the winters are very much colder.
The Highlands have such a stunning appearance with their stand-out long wide horns and long wavy, double woolly coats, the longest of any breed. Their hair gets shorter in the summer and is not as long when they are bred in southern climates. You might think the cows and bulls look the same. To the contrary, a cow’s horns face upwards and are longer and finer at the tip, whereas a bull’s horns often grow forward or slightly downwards.
Unlike some other cattle breeds, Highlands can live up to the age of 20 years. The cows make great mothers, are very defensive and protective and can have up to 15 calves in their lifetime. They have a great grazing efficiency, are fantastic scavengers and will eat almost anything if it has food value.
Highlands have a great understanding of their own social hierarchy and do not fight each other. Social standing amongst a group depends on age and sex. Older cattle are dominant to younger ones and males dominate females. When a bull reaches two years old, it will dominate an adult cow. If they are seen playfighting, licking and mounting, this can be seen as friendly contact.
The current herds in New Zealand began with imports from Scotland and Canada in the 1970’s, with the NZ Highland Cattle Society formed in 1993 and are considered a rare breed here. Their docile and friendly nature can make them good pets. And on that note, look out for a local story coming to this page soon!
