Saturday 2 May 2015

SATURDAY CRITTERS - The Garlic Farm (Part 4)

I gave you a little glimpse of the Highland cattle in Thursday’d post.  Today the first 2 photos were taken just opposite The Garlic Farm and the others were in another field.  I have included some information regarding this breed. 


Highland cattle (Scottish Gaelic: Bò Ghàidhealach) (Scots: kyloe) are a Scottish breed of cattle with long horns and long wavy coats which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun.  

The Highland cattle registry ("herd book") was established in 1885.  Although groups of cattle are generally called herds, a group of Highlands is known as a fold. They were also known as kyloes in Scots.


The breed was developed in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. Breeding stock has been exported to the rest of the world, especially Australia and North America, since the early 20th Century. The breed was developed from two sets of stock, one originally black, and the other reddish.


Highlands are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and very strong winds. Highland cattle have been successfully established in many temperate countries and indeed in countries where winters are substantially colder than Scotland's such as in central Europe and Canada. Their hair gives protection during the cold winters and their skill in looking for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas. They both graze and browse and eat plants which many other cattle avoid.

 The meat tends to be leaner than most beef because Highlands get most of their insulation from their thick shaggy hair rather than subcutaneous fat. The coat makes them a good breed for cold northern climates and they are able to thrive in outdoor conditions that would defeat most other breeds of domestic beef cattle. 


As such, Highland cattle are able to produce beef at a reasonable gross margin from inhospitable land that would otherwise normally be incapable of rendering a profit agriculturally. Whilst the UK domestic and worldwide popularity of Highland cattle has made trade in pedigree beasts occasionally the most lucrative - mainly on account of their handsome appearance - they are at their best agriculturally when used to produce beef in a cold climate from poor pasture and forage.



Whilst the muscle of pure-bred Highland cattle is exceptionally tender and of high flavour, modern butchery and shopping trends tend to demand a carcass and a cut of meat of a different character. In order to address this market, Highland beef producers commonly run commercial Highland suckler cows with a 'terminal' sire such as a Shorthorn or Limousin bull.

This allows the hardy Highland cow, grazed upon the rough hillsides of her natural environment, to produce a cross-bred beef calf featuring the tender beef of its mother on a more modern carcass of high commercial value at slaughter, thus rendering a gross margin from her grazing that would have been impossible from other breeds in that environment.   Now for a bit of fun!



Look Lady, I am trying to have my dinner.


                                                               OK?



Boy this is good grub!


You still there?


Look, I don’t want to be rude - but.....


 I told you, can’t a girl have a meal in piece!



Enough photographs please.


I’m not looking at you.






I’m off!

I hope you enjoyed this post and the little bit of fun.

I have a short video, CLICK HERE if it does not appear below.



I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS.

I have 3 more posts about The Garlic Farm so hope you will join me
 for the final posts on this series.

Thank you for your visit and also for all your comments.

29 comments:

  1. The red-headed shaggy Scottish cattle are so cute. I like their smaller stature and short faces, they look very mild and agreeable. I think I've seen them at the local fair in the past. If I were going to keep cattle they look like a fun breed.

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    1. HI Hannah Glad you liked the Highland cattlein this post. Have a lovely wekend.

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  2. Good morning Margaret.
    What a beautiful picture of the Scottish Highlanders.
    Here in my town is a Scottish Highlander born, I hope to take pictures of.
    Have a happy weekend.

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  3. Hello Margaret, I love these beautiful cattle with their shaggy coats.. I like their color too. Great post and photos! Love the video too. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

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  4. Margaret this post has made my Saturday. There are two cattle breeds I like, Highland and Jersey. Truly great images and information, thank you.

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  5. I really like this breed of cattle. There's a hilly farm near me with Highlands and I plan to get some photos later on this year when they are allowed to graze in the lower pasture but I'm not sure my photos will be as good as these are. You took some great photos!

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  6. Hari OM
    Hello Margaret... I cannot believe it took me this long to come visit you, having spotted you at a couple of other bloggies I love; but having just made good connection with Eileen in MD I spotted the heilan' coo on the blog hop and could NOT miss you this time!!! As a Scot, I am of course a bit partial to these beasties and if I tell you my walls are covered in piccies of them you might guess that borders on infatuation!

    I took time to read back over your Garlic Farm posts - what a delight. I am now your newest 'member'! YAM xx

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  7. These are really interesting cattle! Don' tthink i have ever seen anything quite like these, although they somewhat remind me of the Buffala cattle we saw in Italy. Very interesting learning some about these cattle. Thanks for sharing Margaret. Hope you are having a great spring.

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  8. they're very cute and a neat breed. i used to follow a blog that bred them in nova scotia. :)

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  9. Great shots! Thanks for sharing the information, I had no idea the breed had spread world wide.
    Happy weekend!

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  10. Wonderful photos and video. I have always had a soft spot for the highland cow. They seem to be making an appearance around the world. I saw two in a field in Norway last year.

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  11. Wonderful photos of these gorgeous animals! Enjoy your evening, Margaret.

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  12. I love your pictures today, they are super duper! I have never heard or seen these, but so interesting!! How can they see? They must stumble around the field from being half blinded! I also really enjoy that you have paid attention to details, like the cloven hoofs!! And yes, even the glimpse of an eye! Great post today!

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  13. It's a fascinating breed, and I loved seeing the photos and video and learning more about it. It reminds me of what prehistoric man must have had for cattle.

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  14. What a fantastic breed. I love their shaggy coats. Great photos and video, Margaret.

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  15. They are beautiful creatures, aren't they?! We have quite a few here in SE Ontario. My client had a few in his backyard, accidentally!

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  16. I have enjoyed seeing these highland cattle images. Very handsome animals and those horns. Loved the video too!

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  17. They look like they need a haircut,so they can see.

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  18. Never seen anything like this.
    The closest to such much hair was our own Shaggy the Bobtail.
    These guys are very cute, but I am happy to note they are a robust breed.
    How nice!
    Have a Beautiful Weekend, Margaret!
    Peace :)

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  19. I really like these cows - I have been know to pull over to the side of the road to see them!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  20. omgoodness, they are just so cool and beautiful!! Your images are awesome!! Have a wonderful Sunday!!

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  21. Great shots of the cattle.

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  22. I don't often get to see Highland cattle very often. I think they are beautiful animals.

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  23. A big hairy cattle. Enjoying your shots.
    Thanks for dropping by :)

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  24. Oh my... so cutee....at 12/17!!!*_* Love it so much!! Wonderful post and full of infos, too! (things I've learned about now...) Great job, Margaret! Well done! Salutari! greetings, again...

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  25. Such a great series! He´s so cute! And really hairy! :)

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  26. wonderful images of the hairy critter. Love it´s golden color:)

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