Scottish Highland cattle have lived for a thousand years in the rugged remote Highlands of northern Scotland. The extremely harsh conditions created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed.

Highland Cattle draw a crowd wherever they are found. Despite their long horns and unusual appearance, Scottish Highland Cattle are typically friendly and even-tempered, bulls as well as cows. They are easily halter trained, and make great farm projects for children and teenagers. Both male and female Highlands have horns.

With the ability to thrive in less than ideal circumstances, outstanding mothering instincts, longevity, and very low calf mortality, Scottish Highland cattle are the type of beef animal in demand by today’s health conscious food buyer. Highlands are an old breed who have found a place in modern American agriculture.

Today’s beef buyer demands lean, premium meat. The Highland steer is ideally suited to meet this challenge. Highland beef is lean, well marbled and flavorful with little fat. Highlands are insulated by their long water-proof double coat of hair rather than a thick layer of fat like most modern beef steers.

In the British Isles, Highland beef is recognized as the finest available and fetches premium prices. The British Royal family keeps a large herd of Highlands at Balmoral Castle, near Braemar, Scotland, and considers them their beef animal of choice.

The first Scottish Highland herd book for the United States was established  in 1884, when cattlemen from the western U.S. imported these picturesque cattle to improve the blood lines they had brought with them from the Eastern states. As a result, the Scottish Highland contributed in a great way to the success of the American cattle industry. Today Scottish Highlands are found throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Australia and South America.

Highland cattle have lived for a thousand years in the rugged remote Highlands of northern Scotland. The extremely harsh conditions created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed.