Bred to be Tough and Tender

Since the early 14th century, Scottish Highland Cows have been bred in the harsh climates of the Scottish Highlands. Settlers of the region needed cattle tough enough to survive the wind and cold of winter while providing milk and lean meat. They had to be small and gentle enough to come inside the house to keep warm with the family.

Over centuries of selective breeding, Scottish Highlands have come to be known for not only their hardy nature and usefulness, but also their docile personalities and cuddly appearance.

What Makes a Scottish Highland Cow?

They’re easy to spot, but these traits are for more than just looks.

The Dossen

That shaggy fringe is more than just a fluffy hairdo. It shields their eyes from wind, rain and snow. They shed their thick winter coats in the summertime to keep cool, while still having enough to keep flies and other pests at bay. The fluffy coat, combined with their gentle demeanor have catapulted Scottish Highland cattle in recent years.

Highland Horns

Unlike other cattle breeds, both bull and cow Scottish Highland cattle have horns. They’re used to forage and scratch through snow and ice, scratch itches, protect their calves, and even regulate their body temperature. Blood flows through their horns, cooling like a radiator before circulating back through the body.

Gentle, Docile Temperament

In the Highlands, farmers would bring their cattle in their homes for warmth and safety. Being that close required cows that are docile and friendly. While our cattle don’t spend winter in the kitchen at Cyrus Ridge, we continue the gentle tradition by selecting breeding and training our Scottish Highlands to be approachable and kind.

Mini and Micro Highlands

Historically selective breeding has, by design, produced smaller and smaller highlands. A smaller highland is easier to handle and requires less feed— making them great for small homesteads. Recent interest in pet cows has added pressure to breed the smallest cow possible. That just didn’t sit right with us.

Nobody wants to spend for the best cow, just to have the unintended issues that come from selectively breeding for smaller and smaller. You want a social companion who is going to be around for the long haul. You want cow that is healthy and happy. At Cyrus Ridge, we prioritize breeding the healthiest and friendliest miniature cow possible. And we aren’t willing to sacrifice the animals well being for the smallest cow on the market. We want the healthiest “dam” raised calf in the country.

Our Mini Highlands can thrive on .5-.75 acres per cow (with supplemental hay feeding in the winter). As they are herd animals we typically recommend additional animals. That means a pair of highland cows gives your cows the best chance for a happy, healthy life.

How to Tell Your Highland Cow’s Temperament

Knowing how your Scottish Highland is going to behave goes a long way in choosing the best choice for your family and your space. We use the Universal Cattle Docility Scale, developed for the industry in 2019, to accurately describe how calm or restless an animal is around people.

Level 1 - Docile: These cows are calm, cool, and collected. They stand quietly and accept human contact.

Level 2 - Restless: They are generally calm but may put up some resistance when being handled.

Level 3 - Nervous: These cows are manageable but can get worked up easily. Give them plenty of space.

Level 4 - Flighty: Flighty cows are easily excitable. They tend to avoid people and are generally harder to manage.

Level 5 - Aggressive: These cows show strong defensive reactions. They’re unsafe for close human interaction.

Because no one number tells the whole story, we may use half numbers (e.g. 1.5) or Average Scores (e.g. AV3) for behavior that spans multiple ratings.