Scottish Highland cattle are a hardy breed of rustic that originated in the Scottish Highland the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland. They are known for their long horns and shaggy coats, which help them to withstand cold temperatures in the region. The first Scottish Highland herd dates back to just 1885. This breed of cattle is descended from the Hamitic Longhorn, which was brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers before Christ was born. The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Scottish Highland cattle. One was known as the West Highland or Kyloe, which lived mostly in the Outer Hebrides. These cattle were smaller and had black coats. The other type of Scottish Highland cattle described in the original herd book was known as the mainland, which was larger and ranged in color, but most frequently were reddish. The two types of Scottish Highland cattle have been crossbred so much over the years that there really is no longer a difference between the two; there is just one variant of Scottish Highland cattle today. Canada’s Scottish Highland Cattle Scottish Highland Cattle were first imported to Canada in the 1880s, shortly after the breed’s origination. Donald A. Smith, the Lord Strathcona of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Robert Campbell of Strathclair, Manitoba, each imported one bull. Scottish Highland cattle were also brought to Nova Scotia in the 1880s. But the cattle’s numbers were small until the 1920s, when large-scale breeding and more importing began. The Canadian Highland Cattle Society was registered in 1964; it currently registers all purebred cattle in Canada. Today, Scottish Highland cattle are primarily found in eastern Canada. There are an estimated 11,000 Scottish Highland cattle in Canada and the United States combined. Their specs Scottish Highland cattle have long, wide horns and long, wavy, wooly coats. About 60 percent of their population is reddish brown, 22 percent are yellow and the rest are silver, black or brindle/dun. Whatever their color, Scottish Highland cattle sport an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside, they have oily outer hair – the longest of any cattle breed, which covers a downy undercoat. This makes them comfortable in the Highlands, which sometimes have strong winds and a lot of rain each year. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms and heifers can weigh up to 500 kilograms. They typically measure from 90 to 120 centimeters. Socially, the cattle have a hierarchy of dominance, which reduces aggression between cows. According to studies of Scottish Highland cattle, social standing within the herd depends on age and sex, with older, male cows being the most dominant. Commercial market The beef from Scottish Highland cattle is extremely tender, making it desirable. It is lean, but well marbled and usually rated as “premium beef.” But the market for high-quality meat is in decline. That’s due at least in part because pure Scottish Highland beef commands a premium price due to its fine texture, succulent flavor and high protein content. Studies in Scotland have found that Scottish Highland meat is lower in both fat and cholesterol than chicken. It’s also high in iron. Farming Scottish Highland cattle is not intensive. They usually graze on land that is not suitable for growing food. Thus, Scottish Highland cattle farming is considered to be highly environmentally sustainable. Comments are closed.
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AuthorStephen Gleave of Ancaster, Ontario is a lawyer and a nature lover. Archives
January 2023
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