About Highland
Cattle
Highlands are a Hardy Heritage breed originating
from the rugged landscape of the Highlands of Scotland.
You will read many stories about the hardiness of the
Highland Cow. We can assure you that those stories are TRUE!
We have witnessed their hardiness for ourselves while
observing them during the cold wet Victorian winters.
During the coldest winter days on our farm, our fold of
Highland Cattle can be seen grazing and ruminating happily, in
comparison to our neighbour’s cattle, that huddle together to
conserve energy to stay warm.
It is quite a contrast.
Even in the hot Australian summers these same cattle are
no more stressed then other breeds.
In the summer our cattle loose, except for their dossans,
(the fringe of hair that hangs across their face and eyes) their
winter coats. The outer, longer coat is shed along with most of
the under coat giving them a sleek appearance. Before the
approach of the next winter season, they have once again renewed
both layers of their thick warm coat.
 The
Highland Cow is an attentive, protective mother. It has
been noted that even sheep that share the same paddock
with these cattle will be protected from predators. If
only the cattle would take such care of our
Suffolk sheep when it was feeding time!
It is interesting to know that the Highland
Cattle are the oldest pedigree breed of cattle in the world.
Archaeological evidence has traced the Highland Cattle
back to the sixth century.
Written records have been found that go back to the
twelfth century.
There were
originally two types of Highland Cattle, Kyloes, a smaller,
slower developing, hardy type of Highland
that happened to be black in colour.
These were mainly found on the Islands
and the western side of Scotland.
Then there were the
second type that was larger, red in colour, and found on the
Highlands of Scotland.
Modern breeding has now virtually eliminated any genetic
variation associated with colour.
Red, black, yellow, dun, white, and brindled are all
recognized colours that are found in the breed today.
Highland
cattle are a low maintenance, adaptable, docile breed of
cattle.
Their
meat is excellent in quality and taste.
Testing has been carried out on the meat in comparison
to other breeds and has reveled that it is lower in
cholesterol with the same or more percentage of carcass
fat.
Highland cattle
have come along way since the 1960’s when they were placed on
the critical list by the rare breeds Survival Trust.
Credit and Acknowledgement has to be extended to all the
dedicated breeders of Highland Cattle around the world that have
and still believe that the Highland
cow has a place in the modern beef industry.
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