Highland Cattle

Native to the Highlands of Scotland, these hardy animals with their grand head, large spreading horns and shaggy coat of various hues, possess a nobility of appearance unrivalled by other breeds of cattle. Adapted to withstand the rigours of winter in the north of Scotland, Highland Cattle, for years thought of as decorative rather than profitable, are enjoying a resurgence of commercial interest. Interestingly in 1884 when the Scottish Highland Cattle Society was formed most of the animals registered in the early herd books were black whereas now black is not found as much.

Highland Cattle were first imported into Australia in the mid nineteenth century. Sir William McGregor, amongst others imported animals to his property "Ard Choille" on Mount Macedon. He exhibited some of these animals at the Melbourne Show in the 1880s. But, as no new blood was introduced the breed died out. The more recent history shows that two cows and a bull were imported to South Australia in the early 1950s. The cattle were mainly kept for their beauty and rarity. In the 1970s Highland cattle were once more imported to Australia and at the same time a grading up program was started using imported semen with Jersey cows. During the 1980s their popularity grew and in 1988 the Australian Highland Cattle Society was formed. At present there are over 150 members of the Society with around 1800 registered cattle.

Today's Highland cattle still survive in weather no other domestic cattle breed can tolerate. Their thick double layered coats form effective barriers against the weather, the outer layers are long and strong to withstand rain, soft undercoats protect against the cold. The long fringe of hair shields the eyes against snow and driving rain, and helps prevent eye infections spread by insects. With such long coats and enormous tapered horns (which point upwards on the cows and downwards on the bulls) these cattle have a magnificent, even fearsome, look about them. In fact they are remarkedly even tempered beasts.

The hairy overcoat means the carcass does not lay down the thick layer of surface fat necessary to so many other breeds, so the meat is lean yet full of flavour with just the right amount of marbled fat throughout. Hides from these animals can be sold for as much as the meat making them more profitable than your average cattle. The hides make luxurious rugs with hair about 4-6 inches long and can be found in colours from white through yellow to reds and black.

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Information supplied by Bill Wilson, Cruachan Highland Cattle,The Croft, Maffra, Victoria, Australia

Further information can also be obtained from the Australian Highland Cattle Society Inc. Royal Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, Vic 3032 Australia.

Photo : Cow and calf courtesy of the Australian Highland Cattle Society Inc.

Last updated 6 January 2002