How to Care for a Scottish Highland Cow

Thick, slightly wavy hair and long horns make the Scottish Highland a distinctive breed. The Highland breed originated in the remote Scottish Highlands and is the oldest registered cattle breed. Highlanders are red, black, dun, yellow or silver-white. Cows average 1,100 pounds while bulls are heavier at 1,800 pounds. The breed is well-known for the production of high-quality beef. Highlander cows are hardy and have outstanding mothering ability.

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a quality Scottish Highland heifer or cow. Structural soundness, a strong, level back, good muscling and adequate size for age are characteristics of a desirable female. Select a female from a reproductively sound bull and cow.

    • 2

      Provide pasture or hay for the Scottish Highland cow. Highland cows do well on pasture or rangeland. During winter months, hay provides adequate nutrition. Mature cows usually do not require grain supplementation but it may be necessary for desired growth in a young heifer. Heifers eat 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight as hay and grain. Provide a salt and mineral block and clean, fresh water.

    • 3

      Construct a sturdy corral or pen for the cow. Scottish Highland cows are adapted to cold, snowy weather. Provide a windbreak for winter months and shade for warm summer days.

    • 4

      Breed the Highland heifer to calve at 2 to 3 years of age. Good producing cows have a calf every 12 months. Breed the heifer or cow to a suitable bull or use A.I. (artificial insemination). A.I. allows the cow owner to breed to a variety of bulls but requires heat detection and the services of an A.I. technician. The gestation length for Scottish Highland cattle is about 283 days.

    • 5

      Provide a clean and dry calving area. Watch the Scottish Highland cow as calving approaches and provide assistance if the calf is not delivered after two to three hours of labor. Wipe the mucous from the newborn calf's nose and be certain the calf breathes normally immediately after birth. The calf nurses colostrum within four to 12 hours.

    • 6

      Wean the Scottish Highland calf at six to eight months. The normal weaning weight is 300 to 400 pounds. Heifer calves are kept as replacement breeding animals. Bull calves are raised for breeding or raised as steers for meat. Steers reach a market weight of about 1,000 pounds in less than two years.

    • 7

      List detailed information about the Scottish Highland cow. Record the breeding date, calving date, sex and birth weight for each calf. Record the weaning and yearling weights, if possible. Keep information about the sire of each calf.

    • 8

      Contact a local veterinarian and develop a health care program. Scottish Highland cows are disease-resistant but benefit from annual vaccinations and treatment for parasites. Construct a sound handling facility or chute to restrain the cow during vaccination and treatment. Or teach the cow to lead and tie by halter.