Highland Cattle

Highland cattle are one of the oldest registered cattle breeds in the world, developed in the rugged Scottish Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. They were bred over centuries to survive harsh, wet, and cold conditions without needing much shelter.

Their most recognizable trait is their coat, a double layer made up of long, coarse outer guard hairs over a soft, downy undercoat. This double coat is so effective at insulating the animal that Highland cattle actually need less body fat than most other cattle breeds to stay warm, which is part of why their beef is naturally leaner.

Both male and female Highland cattle typically grow horns, though the shape differs between the sexes. Despite their size and horns, the breed has a reputation for being calm, docile, and good-natured, which is part of what makes them such a popular breed for guided encounters like ours.

Highland cattle are also known for being excellent foragers, able to graze on rough vegetation that many other cattle breeds would struggle to use for nutrition, which historically made them well suited to poor, rocky Highland pastures.