Owning Highlands
History of the Breed
Scottish Highland Cattle originated in the Highlands and Western Islands of Scotland.
Highland Cattle were first imported into Australia in the mid-nineteenth century to a property in Braidwood. It is believed that other importations followed, but as no new genetics were introduced, the breed eventually died out.
In the 1950s, two cows in calf and an unrelated bull were imported into South Australia. In the decades that followed, the breed began to be re-established through reputable studs and the use of tools such as artificial insemination, importation of semen, and embryo transfer.
The Australian Highland Cattle Society was formed in 1988 and has since grown in membership numbers and registered animals. In 2017, the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia announced that Highland Cattle had been removed from its At Risk Watch List and reclassified as a Recovering Breed.
Undeniably, the popularity of Highland Cattle continues to grow, and here at Springside Highlands, we are committed to preserving this wonderful heritage breed.
Why Highlands
We often get asked, why Highlands? Besides the obvious answer of being extremely beautiful and majestic to look at in the paddock, there are also many other benefits to Highland Cattle. They are calm, docile, hardy, and great for regenerative agriculture.
Highlands are ideal for small acreage. They are a robust, low-maintenance smaller breed of cattle, making them perfect for hobby farms and first-time cattle owners. They are easy-calvers and are known to be non-selective grazers. Plus, they have incredible personalities and a stunning shaggy coat and horns.
Although they do make wonderful pets and companions, it is important to realise they are still cows. Remember that livestock require care and maintenance to ensure their needs are met and they stay happy and healthy. And that you, as an owner, stay safe too!
Husbandry & Care
When owning any breed of cattle, you need to consider a number of factors. These include space, yards and handling facilities, fencing, vaccinations, drenching, tagging, nutrition and feeding, access to water, shade, and shelter, just to name a few!
It’s really important to ensure you are set up and prepared before bringing your first Highland home. If you haven’t spent much time around cattle before, we recommend attending a handling course. There are various field days and weekend courses on offer that will give you a head start on safe handling, reading body language, moving cattle through the yards, and even the basics of halter training.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space do I need for a highland cow?
Generally a minimum of 2 acres per cow is a rough guide. This will of course depend on your location, climate, soil/pasture quality and rainfall. Even then you may still have to be prepared to supplement feed, especially in dry times. Feed and space will also depend on whether you plan on owning steers or cows. Breeding animals such as cows in calf, cows with calves at foot and bulls will eat more and sometimes require extra nutrition and supplements to meet their needs.
Can I own just one as a companion animal?
Cattle are herd animals and therefore prefer the company of another cow. We recommend owning a minimum of two, even if you have other livestock, so they can thrive and feel safe and comfortable. The second bovine friend doesn’t have to be another Highland, as long as they have other cattle to meet their social needs.
Steers or heifers?
Steers (castrated males) are a great option if you are after a companion or paddock ornament. They tend to be quieter, eat less and won’t wander to the neighbours looking for a breeding mate! If not mated, heifers and cows will cycle on average every 21 days and may exhibit changes in behaviour such as restlessness, hormonal fluctuations, moodiness, mounting other cows or wandering in search of a mate.
What do these common terms and abbreviations mean?
Steers – Castrated males
Heifers – Young female cow who has not yet had a calf
Cows – Female cow who has had a calf
Bull – Entire male
Bovine – cattle or relating to cattle
PIC – Property Identification Code
NLIS – National Livestock Identification Scheme
LLS – Local Land Services
MLA – Meat and Livestock Australia
LPA – Livestock Production Assurance
NVD – National Vendor Declaration
Fold – Herd of Highland cattle
Dosson – Long , shaggy fringe of hair that covers the face and eyes of a highland cow
What colours do highland come in?
There are eight official Highland colours that are recognised. Red, Black, Yellow, Dun, White, Silver Dun, Brindle and Parti-Colour.
How can I spot a scam?
Unfortunately the popularity of highlands means scammers take advantage of prospective buyers. Illegitimate breeders and “studs” are getting very clever and scams are becoming harder to spot. However there are certain things to check and watch out for, here are some tips below:
- NEVER transfer or pay any money, even a deposit, to anyone prior to pick up or for cattle “sight unseen”
- Ideally buy from a registered breeder and double check the breeders registration number with the Australian Highland Cattle Society (AHCS).
- Ask for and look up the Property Identification Code (PIC number), you can double check on the NLIS Database online and ensure the details match (however we have still seen this information stolen and impersonated before so be careful)
- If you can’t visit the cattle in person, ask for a live video call. Make sure you can see the person on the screen WITH the cattle (we have seen pre-recordings played during a live video chat to make it look like the cattle are there)
- Keep a look out for any telltale signs on websites and Facebook pages such as use of the word “ranch”, multiple name changes and recently established sites are red flags (go to page history), spelling and grammar errors are also common.
- If the deal seems too good to be true it probably is! Any Highlands advertised ridiculously cheap are more than likely a scam.
- Beware of “Miniature Highland” advertisements, while there are some legitimate studs scammers target this wording as “Miniatures” are highly sort after by hobby farmers and more often than not the cute photos you see are just baby calves, stunted cows, crossbreds or may have a dwarfism gene.
If you are unsure, er on the side of caution. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about spotting scammers or what information you should be double checking, we are more than happy to help!
How much do Highlands cost to purchase?
Highlands can vary in price depending on a number of factors such as steers vs heifers, cows in calf or with calf at foot, stud quality, bloodlines, registration and level of handling/training.
Purebred steers can range from $2000 – $4500 and heifers or cows anywhere between $5000 – $15,000+.
We sometimes have Highland X Galloways available as well, these animals are often fluffy like the Highlands but without the horns which can sometimes be intimidating, especially for families with young children. These can be a great option as paddock pets and are often more reasonably priced than the purebred stud animals.