How long do highland cows live

The first thing you notice about these cows is their unique long hair. They have a coarse outer coat which can be about 33cm long, as well as an inner coat which is shorter, softer and woollier. This double coat provides natural insulation from extreme cold, heavy rainfall, and powerful winds.

Many other breeds cannot withstand cold weather and snow, but Highland cattle can live quite happily in these conditions. This makes them the first choice for herders in the Western Highlands, Alaska and Scandinavian countries. This is actually a misconception. However, their coats can be shades of black, brown, yellow, white, grey, tan, and even white. Originally, the slightly smaller and black or brindled Highland cows were found on the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland and known as 'Kyloe'.

Highland cattle live within a hierarchy system, where individuals are ranked, depending on age and sex. Older ones dominate younger ones and males dominate females. In addition, young males begin to dominate adult females, reaching the age of approximately 2 years. Calves, born from the top ranking cow, automatically get higher position in the herd, even without their mother's initiative.

Friendly behavior between the animals includes licking, mounting and play-fighting. They are strong grazers, very skillful in foraging for food. During winter months, they dig through snow layer with their horns to get to vegetation. In addition, when encountering a predator or a rival, they defend themselves, using their horns. Highland cattle are herbivores. They consume wide variety of vegetation, including grasses and stems. These cattle have polygynous mating system, where a male mates with more than one female.

Gestation period lasts about 9 months, yielding a single baby. The calves of Highland cattle are born preocial and are able to stand, walk and recognize their mother. The mother cow is very careful and devoted to its young, nursing them for about 6 months.

First giving birth at the age of years, they are able to yield offspring up to 19 years. The number of their global population is not currently known, except with specific populations in some areas. Thus, UK holds about 15, individuals of the Highland cattle while the overall population in the USA and Canada is estimated to 11, animals.

Due to grazing, the Highland cattle hugely impact the environment. The coat reduces the need for expensive barns and shelters. It is not unusual to see Highlands grazing a day or two after a winter storm with snow still melting off their backs as they are that well insulated. In the southern hotter climates, the Highlands shed out and have a very short hair coat during the summer months, similar to other cattle breeds.

The older the Highland, the more they will shed out during the hot weather. According to one breeder, Highlands feed intake does not increase until degrees Fahrenheit compared to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in many other breeds.

In addition, the long hair means that the animal does not have to produce a layer of fat to stay warm. This allows the animal to marble naturally on low input forage while producing lean, low fat, high quality cuts of beef.

Highlands shed out earlier in the spring and produce less hair in warm climates making them suitable throughout the U.

Highlands have a long, close history of living with humans. Early Scots would keep the cows downstairs to provide warmth for the family on the second story and to make sure the neighbors didn't help themselves to the family's wealth. Highlands tend to be docile and calm, do not stress easily, and are easy to work with despite their long horns. The horns are used primarily for knocking down brush to graze on, predator control and scratching.

Horns on females are generally upswept and finer textured than are the males. Male horns are more forward pointing and massive. They can also be halter trained as easily as any other breed, even more so because of the Highland's superior intelligence.

Highland females conceive quickly, calve easily and breed back readily on native forage. Bulls are aggressive and durable breeders with some bulls breeding at 13 months old. Highland cows are noted for being highly devoted and protective mothers.

They produce rich milk allowing for steady weight gain in the calf. Highlands are noted for calving ease. Calves are small, pounds and birthing assists are rare. Cows may produce into their late teens reducing the need for frequent herd replacements.

Highland cows will average pounds when mature. Bulls will average from 1,, pounds depending upon forage conditions. How long do Highland Cattle live? It is not uncommon for Highland Cattle to breed to ages in excess of Do all Scottish Highland Cattle have horns? Here in Australia there are long haired cattle without horns that have been bred to polled bulls graded-up from another breed to produce crossbred animals with long hair and without horns Are the shape of the horns the same in cows and bulls?

In the bulls, the horns should be strong, and come level out of the head, slightly inclining forwards, and also slightly rising towards the points. With regards to the horns of the cow, there prevail two opinions.

As a rule, they come squarer out from the head than in the male, rise sooner, and are somewhat longer, though they preserve their substance and a rich reddish appearance to the very tips. The other taste is that for a female, the horns which come more level from the head, with a peculiar back set curve, and a very wide sweep.

A number of breeders seem to prefer, by comparison, the latter, which gives possibly the more graceful appearance. In all cases, however, the horns of a Highlander, when well set, gives the animal a stamp of nobility which causes it to attract the attention of any stranger who might pass heedlessly by animals of other breeds as merely cows, bulls or oxen.

Do Highland Cattle require special handling facilities? Another myth that is often heard is that Highland Cattle require special handling facilities due to their large horns NOT true! We have been breeding Highland Cattle for over 30 years and our facilities are a standard width cattle race along with a standard crush and vet section with a walk through bail head. Highland Cattle will turn their heads to manipulate their head and horns through any space that their body will fit.

There is one proviso and that is that the cattle must be accustomed to going through the yards from a young age. When they are young their horns are small which allows them to traverse the cattle race and crush like any other breed.

As the horns continue to grow they need to go through the yards at least once or twice a year so that they learn to manoeuvre their head and horns. This ensures trouble free handling for years to come. Do Highland Cows calve easily? Other than a few breech births, we have not had to assist at a birth since we started with Highland Cattle in In years gone by Highland Cattle were mainly left to fend for themselves … they either calved successfully or died in the process.

This created a natural culling process which we benefit from today. It should be stressed that ease of calving does not mean the animals should be just left to fend for themselves. The expectation is for proper animal husbandry, and that all cattle require to be inspected regularly during the calving season in order to check for possible issues such as breech birth.

What are the colours of Highland Cattle? You can read more about colour here Highland Cattle Coat Colour. Highland Cattle stocking rate — how many can I run on my property? The best answer is to talk to your local Department of Agriculture about the stocking rates in your area. You can also ask a local farmer in the area. The ability of Highland Cattle to forage, along with slower maturity means that they can hold their condition in poor conditions for longer than many other breeds of cattle however, it needs to be said that like any other animal, they cannot survive on fresh air alone.

Stocking rate must be managed properly in the case of poor conditions if cattle condition is to be maintained. Be sure to visit our Main Page for lots more information.