Highland produce fine textured meat with good flavour and low levels of fat and cholesterol. The Highland cow has a long productive life and many cows reach 18 years and rear 15 calves which greatly reduces their replacement costs. Calving difficulties and abandoned calves are rare. The mothering instinct is highly developed in the Highland cow. They are noted for their browsing ability. Highlands are unusually healthy and hearty and will survive on roughage and poor grazing under climatic conditions where most of the popular breeds would suffer. The Highland has graceful sweeping horns and majestic appearance that will compliment any landscape. The colours include, red, white, black, brindle, yellow and dun. They shed their long hair when exposed to hot dry climate and grow a new one in winter. They have a double coat of hair - a downy undercoat and a long outer coat which is well-oiled to shed rain and snow. Highlands are a moderate size which means that they have a 10% more carrying capacity than larger breeds. Through the long recorded history of Highlands, breeders have taken great care to retain the original characteristics of these cattle. The Highland Cattle Society when formed in 1884 was exclusively promoted by larger land owners. After this access and roads became better and then trains came and changed droving and bartering forever.Ĭrofters, in the 1830/40's, would usually only have cross bred cattle, raising a calf and providing milk for the family. This system was in place between 14 and at its height between 15. The land owner and the tacks man according to their respective position and wealth would often supply bulls for all of the tenants as well as replacement stock. Out of this the rent and other debts would be settled. Once or twice a year the cattle would be gathered for rent along with others that these folk wished to sell and drovers would take the accumulated fold to the cattle fares (Trysts) throughout Scotland and sell on their behalf. He in turn sub-leased this into smaller holdings which would include his children, cousins etc and crofters who were poor folk who subsisted only.Īs payment for the lease the tacks man and his Chief would sub lease and sell cattle to all those below them in the pecking order. The tacks man was mostly related to the overall owners and a Sub Chief or Captain of the family/clan. Each estate or Clan holding was divided into Tacks run by tacks men usually of several hundred acres. The traditional use of Highland Cattle was in the estate/Highland Chief/landowner type of situation. A female Highland in traditional "ruadh" or red colour
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