Highland cattle
The Highland is a shaggy, long-horned Scottish beef breed that suits rough pasture and cold, wet winters. It is described as docile, calves easily and needs little shelter, but it is slow to mature. Cows weigh 900–1,300 lb and bulls 1,500–2,000 lb, and both sexes have long horns.
- Temperament
- Docile, Calm
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Highland right for you?
Good fit if
- You have rough pasture or brush and cold, wet winters
- You want a beef cow that calves without much help
- You're fairly new to cattle and want a docile breed
Poor fit if
- You want beef quickly. The association describes the breed as slow maturing
- You are wary of long horns. Both sexes have them, though the association says the cattle are easy to work with despite them
- You want a dairy cow. The sources list the Highland as a beef breed
Appearance and varieties
A Highland is a medium-sized beef animal with a moderate frame, short powerful legs, long horns and a long fringe of hair (the dossan) over the eyes. The association's standard asks for a head that is broad between the eyes and short from eye to muzzle, a straight broad back and, in females, hips that are very wide and level.
The coat is double: a long, coarse outer layer and a soft woolly layer underneath. The standard asks for hair that is long and gracefully wavy, and counts the ability to shed a winter coat in hot months as an advantage.
Bulls' horns come level out of the head and curve slightly forward. Cows' horns are generally longer, finer and upswept. The association accepts seven colours: red, yellow, white, brindle, black, dun and silver.32
Temperament and handling
The American Highland Cattle Association says Highlands tend to be docile and calm, do not stress easily and are easy to work with despite the horns. The Livestock Conservancy lists the temperament as docile and the breed as suitable for novice to intermediate keepers. Oklahoma State calls it even-tempered, bulls as well as cows.
Cows are described by the association as highly devoted and protective mothers.215
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calf birth weight | 60–70 lb2 | |
| Productive life | Cows may produce into their late teens2 | |
| Beef | Lean, well marbled; slow maturing25 | The association's description. The coat does the insulating, so the animal carries little outside fat. |
| Gestation | 283 days, give or take 198 | All cattle, from Oregon State. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Highlands need less shelter than most cattle. The association says the double coat reduces the need for expensive barns, and Oklahoma State says cold and snow have little effect on them.
Oregon State's general advice for small beef herds still applies: a mud-free area with protection from wind and rain, such as a three-sided shelter; a perimeter fence with strong corner braces; and a corral, alley and squeeze chute for handling. That advice is for beef cattle in general, not Highlands in particular.
In warm regions, the association says Highlands shed earlier and grow less hair, and recommends buying cattle from a climate similar to your own.258
Feed
Highlands are foragers. The association calls them excellent browsers that do well on brush, on grass or on grain finishing, and The Livestock Conservancy says they thrive on rough forage and eat many pest plants as well as grass.
For beef cattle in general, Oregon State says an animal eats up to 3 percent of its bodyweight in good-quality feed a day on a dry-matter basis, and drinks 4 to 20 gallons of water a day depending on size, age and weather. Clean water must be available at all times. Salt or mineral supplements can be offered free choice; what is needed varies with your area and feed.218
Health
Oklahoma State describes the Highland as disease resistant and says the long lashes and forelock shield the eyes from flies, so pinkeye and cancer eye are uncommon.
The basics are the same as for any beef herd. Oregon State puts prevention first: clean sheds, lots and troughs, a sound vaccination programme, parasite control, and frequent observation of the herd. It says to keep purchased calves isolated where you can watch them closely for at least three weeks.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. If an animal seems unwell, call a large-animal vet or your county extension office.58
Price and where to buy
| Quality | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Steer | $2250–$350076 |
| Registered bull or bull calf | $4000–$500067 |
| Registered heifer or cow | $6000–$100006 |
Prices are per animal, read on 9 October 2026. Elm Hollow Farm's page lists asking and sold prices, mostly for registered calves born from November 2023 on and for some older cows and bulls, and its newest dated entry is an auction on 29 July 2025. The North Central Highland Cattle Association classifieds listed a yearling bull born July 2025 at $4,800 and a pair of steers, not AHCA registered, born in winter 2025-26 at $4,500 for the two ($2,250 each). The national association's own classifieds do not show prices.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Highland Cattle Association breeder directory | Breed association | |
| American Highland Cattle Association classified ads | Breed association | Registered cattle from members; no prices shown |
| North Central Highland Cattle Association classified ads | Regional association | |
| Elm Hollow Farm | Breeder | AHCA-registered calves; steers $2,500-3,500, bulls $4,000-5,000, heifers and cows $6,000-10,000 |
Similar breeds
| Breed | Cow weight | Bull weight | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland (this breed) | 900–1300 lb | 1500–2000 lb | $2250–$10000 | |
| Dexter | 700–1000 lb | Up to 1000 lb |
History
The Highland descends from the native cattle of the Scottish Highlands and islands, shaped mostly by natural selection. There were once two types: a smaller, usually black animal on the western islands called the Kyloe, and a larger, usually reddish one on the mainland. They are now one breed. The Livestock Conservancy says the breed was improved in the 1800s by selection alone, with no other breeds brought in.
The first herd book dates from the mid-1880s. The Livestock Conservancy and Oklahoma State say 1884; the American association says the Highland Cattle Society published it in 1885.
The Livestock Conservancy says Highlands first came to North America in the 1880s. The American association puts the first recorded US importation in the late 1890s and notes that earlier ones probably went unrecorded. The American Highland Cattle Association registry was formed in 1948, and the association says Highlands are now found in all fifty states.
In 2019 the breed graduated from The Livestock Conservancy's Conservation Priority List, with more than 1,000 US registrations a year and more than 25,000 animals worldwide.125
Common questions
How big do Highland cows get?
Mature cows weigh 900–1,300 lb and bulls 1,500–2,000 lb. The American Highland Cattle Association's averages sit at the lower end of each range: 900–1,200 lb for cows and 1,500–1,800 lb for bulls.21
What colours do Highland cattle come in?
The American Highland Cattle Association accepts red, yellow, white, brindle, black, dun and silver. The Livestock Conservancy says light red is the most common.31
How much does a Highland cow cost?
On the two pages we checked in October 2026, steers ran about $2,250-3,500, registered bulls and bull calves $4,000-5,000, and registered heifers and cows $6,000-10,000.67
What are Highland cattle used for?
Beef first. The Livestock Conservancy also lists conservation grazing, because they eat brush and pest plants, and agritourism.1
Where do Highland cattle come from?
The Highlands and western islands of Scotland. The first herd book was set up in the mid-1880s, and the American Highland Cattle Association registry dates from 1948.21
Are Highland cattle friendly?
The breed association says they tend to be docile and calm and are easy to work with despite the horns. The Livestock Conservancy rates them for novice to intermediate keepers. Cows are protective mothers.21
Can Highland cattle live in hot climates?
They are built for cold, wet weather, but the association says they shed earlier and grow less hair in warm climates, and Oklahoma State reports successful herds as far south as Texas and Georgia. The association advises buying from a climate similar to yours.25
Do both male and female Highland cattle have horns?
Yes. Bulls' horns come level out of the head and curve slightly forward; cows' horns are generally longer and sweep up.3
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- The Livestock Conservancy, Highland Cattle.
- American Highland Cattle Association, The Breed.
- American Highland Cattle Association, AHCA Adopts a Breed Standard.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Highland Cattle (archived copy).
- Elm Hollow Farm, Highlands For Sale.
- North Central Highland Cattle Association, Classified Ads.
- Oregon State University Extension Service, Beef production for small farms: An overview (EC 1514).
Something wrong? Tell us and we'll check it.