Scottish highlanders in the morning. by Nicky Kapel

About "Scottish highlanders in the morning."

by Nicky Kapel

About the artwork

The Scottish Highlander (Scottish Gaelic: Bò Ghàidhealach; Scottish: Heilan coo), also called Highland Cow, is a mostly reddish-brown breed of cattle native to Scotland. They have long hair and long horns.

Origin
The Scottish Highlander is the original cattle of the western highlands of Scotland and the Hebrides. No inbreeding with other cattle breeds took place. In 1885, the first herd book was established,[1] with the first herdbook being established.

Characteristics
Until 1849, most Scottish highlanders were black in colour. The story goes that in the 1840s Queen Victoria visited the Scottish Highlands and then expressed her preference for the red animals. She simply found these more beautiful. She ordered more red highlanders to be bred.[2] Besides black and red, blonde varieties also occur. An adult bull weighs 800 kilograms and a cow 500 kilograms. The shoulder height is 125 and 115 cm respectively. Scottish highlanders can live up to eighteen years. During that time, a cow can give birth to about 15 calves. The gestation period is about ten months. Cows have widespread, upward-pointing horns, while those of bulls are horizontally forward.

Grazers
Thanks in part to their thick coat, this breed of cattle is suitable for year-round use as large grazers. The animals are therefore frequently seen in nature and recreation areas in the Netherlands. They require little care and are rarely aggressive, but in case of an unexpected confrontation, cautious behaviour is recommended. If ample distance is kept, the animals will generally not be alarmed by human presence.[3] Highlanders also feed on plants that many other cattle species ignore. (Source Wikipedia)