Wild cattle include the water buffalo from South East Asia, the musk ox and yak from Central Asia, the bison of North America and Europe and the African buffalo. The word cattle is used for some wild animals as well as for domesticated cattle. The word comes from the Old French word,'chattels', meaning all the things that a person owns. In books such as the King James Version of the Bible, the word is used for all sorts of farm animals, including horses, sheep and goats. The word cattle has been used in English for about 1,000 years and the meaning has changed.
They are used for milk, meat,source of money, transport, and companions. Cattle have been domesticated for about 9,000 years. The calves have long strong legs and can walk a few minutes after they are born, so they can follow the herd.Ĭattle are native to many parts of the world except the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. The cows usually give birth to one calf a year, though twins are also known to be born. One male, called a bull will usually have a number of cows in a herd as his mates. Cattle usually stay together in groups called herds. The horns come out on either side of the head above the ears and are a simple shape, usually curved upwards but sometimes down. Cattle can be horned or hornless, depending on the breed. This stomach is an adaptation to help digest tough grasses. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae.Ĭattle are large grazing animals with two-toed or cloven hooves and a four-chambered stomach. Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated hoofed animals. Cattle may be cows, bulls, oxen, or calves. Highlands perform well in a variety of feed scenarios whether brush, forage/grass based or grain finished.Dairy cattle grazing (eating grass) in a field.Ĭattle is a word for certain mammals that belong to the genus Bos. They have been used in the US and worldwide to clear brush lots, for Oak Savannah restoration and grazing improvement projects. Cows may produce into their late teens reducing the need for frequent herd replacement.īrowsing/Grazing Ability: These cattle are excellent browsers. Due to small calf size (60-70 pounds), calving difficulty (dystocia) is less common.
Male horns are more forward pointing and massive.Įxceptional Mothering and Calving Ease: Highland cows are noted for being highly devoted and protective mothers. Horns on females are generally upswept and finer textured than those on the males. The horns are used primarily for knocking down brush to graze, predator control and scratching. They are easy to work with despite their long horns. Highlands tend to be docile and calm and do not stress easily. A woven wattle fence would separate the animal’s living areas from that of its owners, with both sharing the added warmth. Early Scots would keep the family cow(s) inside their homes during the winter. Highlands shed out earlier in the spring and produce less hair in a warmer climate, making them suitable for a variety of environments.Įasy Handling: Highlands have a long history of living with humans.
This allows the animal to marble naturally on low input forage while producing lean, low fat, high quality cuts of beef. The coat reduces the need for expensive barns and shelters.ĭue to the double hair coat, this breed does not need a heavy layer of backfat for insulation. Hair Coat: The double hair coat (long, coarse outer layer and soft wooly inner layer) is one of the most notable differences between Highlands and other breeds.
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