Scotland

Highland cattle are a distinctive breed of ancient Scottish beef cattle. Known also as longhorn, the highland cow can be seen around the world and breeding stock has been exported from Scotland to places such as Australia and North America where they are popular due to their hardy nature and excellent lean meat. These lovely. loveable, thick coated and long haired creatures are the popular subjects of landscape and bovine artists and appear on countless picture postcards.

Originally the breed was actually two, one being purely black and the other being a very reddish brown. Although the breed has has remained almost unchanged for centuries it is now possible to find highlanders of various shades including the occasional beast that appears almost white. Pedigree Highland Cattle, stock bulls and 1st Class show winners fetch enormous sums of money at auction and owners of a fold (herd) of pure bred highland cattle are rightfully proud of their achievements in building such a collection of fine beasts.

The Highland Cattle Society (www.highlandcattlesociety.com) is a Scottish charity provides a wealth of information about the highlander and related news. The Society helps maintain the breed standard much of it based on the overall appearance of the animal with a dedication to such things as the hair. Most aspects of the breed are agreed upon but fierce debate continues on which is the preferable color – black, brindled, red, yellow, or dun?

The best place to see highland cattle is in their native environment. Their thick long coats protect them from the harsh weather encountered on the Scottish moors and mountains. Folds roam freely in rural districts of Scotland and, although most places are fenced, it is always wise for drivers to take great care when driving through country roads. In places like the highlands of Scotland, and especially the Hebrides, the animals roam freely and traffic is often brought to a standstill by a group of cattle taking a stroll up the road. If faced by such you should always keep in mind that these animals are extremely strong and can easily knock a grown man to the ground with only a slight glance, worse still, if you happen to get caught between a highlander and hard place (such as your car) it is going to leave you in a sorry state.

The safest place to view highland cattle is at one of the many country shows or highland games where the animals compete for the prestigious title of 1st Class Show Winner. Owners can be see grooming their prize bull and visitors are allowed to watch closely at most shows. Country shows and highlands games are a fantastic day out for all of the family and they are not exclusive to Scotland. Places such as Canada have highland games on a grand scale.

Owners are also likely to view cattle at the market or auction. Auctions are held up and down the country and news of upcoming sales (and shows) can be found on the Highland Cattle Society’s web site. Pedigree sales are held throughout the year in Perth and Oban and are usually held a day after a show and the prize winners proudly display their rosettes while being paraded in front of prospective buyers.

If you find that you are unable to visit a show you may be interested in a visit to The Highland Cattle Visitors Centre (www.thehighlandcattlecentre.co.uk)which is located in the Tyne Valley. The center has a number of facilities to ensure a fun day out such as pets corner, a coffee shop, a picnic area and field walks. Children are able to get up close and personal in a safe environment. You can even sponsor an animal.

Andrew Kelly has lived in the Hebrides of Scotland for 16 years. Initially concentrating on accommodation in the Hebrides he began writing for the Internet he began writing about vacations in Scotland in general and has now published tens of thousands of pages and articles across many popular sites.