Highland cows, or Scottish highland
Everyone who is engaged in cattle breeding thinks about the issues of keeping and caring for livestock. But is it possible to achieve good productivity with a minimum waste of time and money? Most often, a positive result becomes possible only with a carefully selected method of feeding and care. However, there are very unpretentious types of livestock, for example, Highland beef cattle. It is distinguished by its extraordinary stamina, endurance and unpretentiousness. We will tell you about it further.
Highland cow breed
Origin and characteristics
The Highland cow, bred in the Scottish Highlands and the western Hebrides, has been exported around the world since the early 20th century. It is believed that the genetic progenitor of this species was Celtic cattle, which had not been selected for a long time. Initially, the breeding stock was brown or black in color. Nowadays, there are black, red, spotted, yellow and silver representatives of the Highland cows.
The coat of these animals is long, wavy and two-layered. The top layer is a tough, curly and long coat, under which there is a soft and dense undercoat. This allows cows to endure cold weather and do without a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. Long bangs are designed to protect the eyes from gusts of wind and annoying insects.
Despite the impressive horns and massive muscles, the Highland cows belong to the mini group. This is due to the fact that they have a small body and their limbs are rather short. Plus, the Highlands have a completely meek and calm disposition, thanks to this and the unusual appearance of these charming mini-cows, many give birth to them not for meat or milk, but for aesthetic reasons.
Conditions of detention
Highland cows are unpretentious creatures, and they can eat literally anything they find under their feet. Their digestive system is designed in such a way that it can digest even coarse fiber - while eating pasture, livestock will also gain weight. These cows do not need intensive feeding, and it takes minimal effort from the breeder to end up with gourmet dietary meat. A small amount of feeding may be required in winter, but if the place of detention is near a forest or other place where the animals can feed on their own, you do not need to worry about this either.
Most often, cows are calving without problems and complications. The heifers themselves raise the young, however, in the cold period, especially at abnormal subzero temperatures, the calves may need additional heating.
Highlands should not be kept on a leash, as this entails a loss of mass. They need ample space to graze and search for food on their own. It would be ideal for these animals to be kept in a large enclosure, while keeping them there in large herds.
The homeland of Highland cows is a rainy and windy place, so no additional equipment is needed to protect the cows from bad weather. The main thing is that there is a canopy under which the livestock can hide from rain or snow. Due to the genetic memory of places where there is little food, a huge herd will need a very small amount of food, so they will not harm the environment.
Highland cows are not intended for tropical and subtropical conditions. Due to their thick coat, they can hardly tolerate heat and high humidity. The life of an animal in such a climate will be short-lived and painful, so breeders from hot countries should refrain from purchasing livestock of this breed.
Highlands advantages
The main advantage of this breed is its unpretentiousness. To maintain the highlands, no special room is required. If there is a large space for walking and grazing animals, it is only necessary to install sheds and, in the absence of natural watering opportunities, drinkers.
Highland cows also have the following number of advantages:
- Due to their unpretentiousness described above, the owner does not need to spend a lot of money on care and maintenance.
- Highlands are famous for their excellent health. They are insensitive to most viruses that cause disease in other breeds of cows.
- They endure cold weather, even the most extreme ones.
- Highlands breed intensively, with very low newborn calf mortality rates.
- These cows live a very long time - up to 15 years.
- Due to the absence of a large fat layer, their meat is truly dietary and very tasty.
- An undoubted advantage is their meek disposition, thanks to which Highland cows can coexist without problems with other domestic animals.
The main product obtained from the cows of this breed - meat - has undoubted advantages. Let's take a look at some of them:
- Due to the small amount of subcutaneous fat, Highland meat is a real dietary product. It is recommended for use by people with diseases of the stomach and intestines.
- Meat contains a minimum amount of cholesterol, therefore, it can be included in the use of the elderly and people suffering from heart and vascular system diseases.
- Highland meat is much more rich in protein and iron than other beef.
- The products have a delicate taste and pleasant texture.
- Meat is a healthy and nutritious product.
Productivity
Despite their small size, highland cows can gain impressive weight throughout their lives. The average weight of one adult female is half a centner, while a bull can weigh 750 kg.
Cows are first reheated at the age of 3 years. The calf weighs on average from 11 to 16 kg. The ability to give offspring in animals lasts up to 18-20 years, but they are usually used only up to 10, because the meat of an old cow loses its properties and is considered second-class.
The ideal slaughter age for a bull is 1-3 years. By this age, they gain enough weight, and their meat is at the same time the most tender.
Breeding mini highland cows
More recently, the highlands in Russia were a novelty. Now this breed is gradually gaining popularity, because it is ideal for breeding in the conditions of Russian climatic zones.
Breeding mini cows of the Highland breed is a profitable and promising occupation. Once you have invested in the purchase of males and females, you can start a business in the production of selected beef or engage in breeding and selling young individuals. Also, these adorable creatures can be acquired and distributed for decorative purposes: they are very friendly and playful creatures.