WEST HIGHLAND CATTLE Bos Taurus

Origin: Scotland

They are and old breed of domestic cattle. The breed was developed in the Highlands of Scotland from two sets of stock, one originally black, and the other reddish.

Highlands have a double coat of hair – a downy undercoat and a long outer coat. The long fringe of hair shields the eyes against snow and driving rain, and helps prevent eye infections spread by insects. Because of their double coat, they do not put on a thick layer of fat for warmth, making their meat lean.

The Highland is unusually healthy and hardy. It will survive on roughage and poor grazing, under weather conditions where most of our popular breeds would suffer.

Highlands are even-tempered and docile, and very intelligent cows.

Highland cattle were the earliest registered breed, and the Queen of England has a fold at Balmoral Castle.