Native to western Scotland, the Highland breed of cattle is one of Britain's oldest, distinctive and best known breeds, with written records dating back to the 18th Century.

Highland Cattle have a distinctive appearance with their long red coat and shaggy fringe

Highland cattle are a hardy breed, ideally suited to survival on poor mountain land with high rainfall, making the most of poor forage.

Many Highland cows continue to breed to ages in excess of eighteen years, sometimes giving birth to around 15 calves which are generally given birth to outdoors.

The hardy nature of this breed means that they can be reared naturally, thriving in the hills and uplands of our country, without the need for intensive farming practices.

The longevity and hardiness of the Highland breed, keeps their farming costs lower than many other breeds, making them an important contribution to the agricultural economy of the UK.  They can be found in many areas of the British Isles and are in high demand in other areas of the world where grazing is poor and weather conditions cold and wet.

Highland Beef

Highland cattle produce lean, well-marbled, flesh that ensures tenderness and succulence with a very distinctive flavour. From a nutritional aspect, Highland Beef is healthy and nutritious with lower levels of fat and cholesterol and a higher protein and iron content than other beef.

More information

Highland Cattle Society - Find out more about the distinctive Highlander cattle.

Highland Cattle World - Read the stories of Highland cattle folds around the world.

We have had a request from Jamie who is trying to transcribe a letter of 1735, in which the writer seems to have given a variety of pear tree to the Duke of Atholl. He spells it as Lieuzeinsky, which may be Luzinsky.

If anybody is able to shed any light on this subject, please let us know so that we can assist Jamie with his transcription.

Jamie has kindly sent us the relevant part of the letter as someone may have a better interpretation.

The writer was chief of the Clan Donnachaidh, who spent a good 20 years in exile in France for treason for his support of the deposed Stuart dynasty. He had a known interest in gardens.

‘I have sent my Lady Jean a part of the first trails of my young standards of which the tree in the middle of the garden is one. I have wrapped them in paper that I may know if they be sweet as they are innocent like the person to be tempted. I am told the K of France has not a finer pair in his possession nor can he bestow them half so worthily & I have seen and can judge of both competitors for Birth and Beauty, without disparagement to the ?Lieuzenskys, I am to your Grace and family an eternal humble servant A ROBERTSON OF STROWAN’

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