Like other Scottish cattle, Highlands are prized for the lean meat that they produce, due mostly to their long, shaggy coat developed to keep them warm in the cold and wet terrain. This led to the development of qualities necessary for survival, including hardiness, longevity, maternal instincts, and being excellent foragers.Īs a matter of fact, this is one of the longest living Scottish cattle breeds, having a lifespan of over 20 years. Adapting to these conditions was key to the survival of the Highland breed. Scottish Highland cattle are named for the Highlands region of Scotland, which is very remote and known for its harsh conditions, especially during winter. The main color for these cattle is black, but they can also be found in red, brown, and dun which is a tan color. This, combined with the female’s maternal instincts, allows Galloways to produce young for much longer than other cattle breeds. This breed is known for its ability to birth calves easily. Even though they were originally from a colder climate, they are able to acclimate to warm climates as well. Like the Belted Galloway, Galloway cattle are very hardy as a breed. Today, most Galloway cattle do not have horns. However, breeders decided that they liked the polled look, so they started breeding the cattle to be hornless. Supposedly, this breed was never crossed with other breeds, so the lack of horns was likely due to a genetic mutation. Most of the original Galloway cattle had horns, but there were also some that were polled, meaning that they didn’t have horns. Just like the Belted Galloway, Galloway cattle originated from the Galloway region in Scotland somewhere around the 15th or 16th century. Galloway Cattle Breed Image Credit: John De Winter, Shutterstock Today, Belties can also be found with red and brown colorings, but they all have that signature “belt” in order to help identify them.Ĥ. Although their natural fur is shaggy, it is sometimes kept short for commercial farming, especially in warm areas. Their hair provides plenty of warmth and insulation for the cattle, which is why Belties produce such exceptionally lean and high-quality meat.Īlthough they are related to the Galloway breed and are both traditionally black in color, Belted Galloways can be distinguished by the white band of fur that wraps around their midsection. As a result, this breed adapted to be very hardy to cold and adverse conditions, as is evidenced by their shaggy coats. This district was along the coast, so it was very rugged and chilly. Angus Cattle Breed Image Credit: Claire2003, Pixabayīelted Galloways, also called “Belties,” have been around since 16th century Scotland in the district formerly known as Galloway. We’ll explain the differences among the eight most popular Scottish Breeds in this article. But, despite having the ability to produce lean mean in common, there are many differences that distinguish breeds of Scottish cattle from each other. They don’t need as much fat to keep them warm. The reason that Scottish cattle produce meat that is lower in fat content is that most of them have thick, shaggy coats. Did you know that when fat is stored in the human body, one of its main purposes is to insulate our bodies and keep us warm? The same thing is true for animals as well. Scottish cattle typically produce lean meat, which is meat that has a low fat content. Scottish cattle, a collective group of cattle that have their origins in Scotland, are well-known and well-loved among the cattle industry and are kept primarily for the meat that they produce. There are cattle that are known for their milk production and there are cattle that are known for their meat.
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