Highlander
This animal lives on the farm attached to Hillside Animal Sanctuary at West Runton, Norfolk.
The Highland is a Scottish breed of rustic cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, bred to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region.
The Highland cattle registry (herd book) was established in 1885. This is the oldest herd book in the world, which makes them the oldest registered cattle in the world. The herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating and living mostly in the Outer Hebrides, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. These cattle were named due to the practice of relocating them. The kyles are narrow straits of water, and the cattle were driven across them to get to market. The other type was the mainland, these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These two types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference.
Highlands have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair, the longest of any cattle breed, covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds.
Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants.
Mature bulls can weigh up to 1,800 lb. (800 kg) and heifers can weigh up to 1,100 lb. (500 kg). Bulls typically have a height of 3 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. (1.06 to 1.2 m) and cows are typically in the range of 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. (0.9 to 1.06 m)
Highland cattle have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young.
Their docile temperament and high butterfat content milk have meant traditionally they have been used as 'house cows', kept to provide milk for a home kitchen. This differentiates them from dairy cows, which are farmed commercially.
The meat of Highland cattle tends to be leaner than most beef because Highlands are largely insulated by their thick, shaggy hair rather than by subcutaneous fat, located under the skin that stores energy and protects the body. Highland cattle can produce beef at a reasonable profit from land that would otherwise normally be unsuitable for agriculture.
Highlander
This animal lives on the farm attached to Hillside Animal Sanctuary at West Runton, Norfolk.
The Highland is a Scottish breed of rustic cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, bred to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region.
The Highland cattle registry (herd book) was established in 1885. This is the oldest herd book in the world, which makes them the oldest registered cattle in the world. The herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating and living mostly in the Outer Hebrides, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. These cattle were named due to the practice of relocating them. The kyles are narrow straits of water, and the cattle were driven across them to get to market. The other type was the mainland, these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These two types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference.
Highlands have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair, the longest of any cattle breed, covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds.
Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants.
Mature bulls can weigh up to 1,800 lb. (800 kg) and heifers can weigh up to 1,100 lb. (500 kg). Bulls typically have a height of 3 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. (1.06 to 1.2 m) and cows are typically in the range of 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. (0.9 to 1.06 m)
Highland cattle have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young.
Their docile temperament and high butterfat content milk have meant traditionally they have been used as 'house cows', kept to provide milk for a home kitchen. This differentiates them from dairy cows, which are farmed commercially.
The meat of Highland cattle tends to be leaner than most beef because Highlands are largely insulated by their thick, shaggy hair rather than by subcutaneous fat, located under the skin that stores energy and protects the body. Highland cattle can produce beef at a reasonable profit from land that would otherwise normally be unsuitable for agriculture.