#SCOTISH HIGHLAND COWS FULL#
#SCOTISH HIGHLAND COWS REGISTRATION#

This allows for more highlands/acre then general cattle. They resemble a goat in that they will eat brush and weeds. Another trait of the Highland that sets it apart from other breeds is their grazing/or browsing. This allows them to handle extreme weather conditions that other cattle would not be able to handle. Due to the conditions of the Highlands, this breed has developed into a very hardy breed of cattle that are unlike any other breed. Highlands have so much to offer as a hardy beef breed, why on earth would you bastardize a grand old breed to produce substandard animals? If you want a Highland, even if just for a pet – please buy a well bred one from someone who has the breed’s best interest at heart.Highland Cows originate from the very rugged Highlands of Scotland. I think (I hope) the problem is, most of these “breeders” do not have cattle experience and are just jumping on a bandwagon. A 'mini' Highland cow will still have regular Highland size genetics - and will have a normal sized calf, greatly increasing the risk of dystocia. Not only do you risk passing on poor qualities, you risk endangering the cow and future calves. Breeding animals that carry the chondro gene increases the risk of bulldog calves (a lethal genetic defect).įor any reason, other than being crossbred, it is irresponsible to pass on those genetics. Many so-called miniature Highlands are the result of a Highland being crossed with a chondro Dexter. Crossbreeding is fine, as long as it is not being marketed as a purebred - and the sire & dam do not carry the chondrodysplasia (dwarf) gene. Maybe the animal is not a purebred Highland, rather crossed with another breed - often Dexter. I've heard of a few cases of people buying a very young calf as a miniature, with no instruction to feed milk replacer - and the calf is dead in a week. Some misrepresent the age of the animal, claiming it is older than it actually is, so it seems small. Some so-called “breeders” pull healthy calves off of healthy dams and feed the calves just enough to survive. Maybe the breeder deliberately withheld nutrition to stunt it. Maybe the breeding combination just didn’t work - not every pairing clicks. Maybe it has something congenital going on – bad heart, for example. Maybe the dam is older and her milk production/quality is declining. Maybe it is a case of placental insufficiency. There are many reasons for an animal to be on the small side. Most often these are stunted, poor examples of the breed. Rising popularity of Highlands has brought out people trying to market smaller animals as “mini” Highlands, commanding high dollars for “pets”. Bulls generally range from 1700-2000 lbs. Adult Highland cows will average 1100-1400 lbs. There is no such thing as a miniature Highland, and certainly not a microminiature one. We have prepared a sample for you:Ĭonsidering Highland cattle? If you are weighing the pros and cons of registered cattle, the following article by Pat White has valuable information to consider in making your decision. If a purebred animal is to be sold without papers, it must be done so in writing – otherwise it is a contravention of both the CHCS Bylaws and the Animal Pedigree Act.Īlso, if you are selling livestock, please ensure you provide a proper bill of sale. And must due so within 6 months of the sale at the seller’s expense.

#SCOTISH HIGHLAND COWS REGISTRATION#

Similarly, only the registered owner of an animal can transfer registration papers to a buyer. Only the owner or lessee of the dam at birth can register an animal - a buyer cannot, under any circumstances.

#SCOTISH HIGHLAND COWS FULL#

A full description of requirements can be found in our Bylaws (Sections 17 & 18) here:

Please note that there are specific rules that must be followed when registering and transferring Highland cattle in Canada. BUYING & SELLING REGISTERED HIGHLAND CATTLE IN CANADA

Scotish highland cows