At Cyrus Ridge Farm, we provide a safe maternity pasture for the pregnant and newly calved cows to enjoy plenty of food, water, and shelter. Likewise, the cows who fall lower in the system will likely hide their calves longer to protect them from getting pushed around by the bigger cows. The calves of the top cows will automatically receive a higher position due to their mother’s status.
She (or he) will allow the others to enjoy the resources as soon as she has been satisfied. The cow at the top of the hierarchy will have the first access to water, food, and shelter. The cows rarely try to hurt the other cows, rather they carefully place their foreheads together and try to push the other one backwards.
The cows will go head to head, fighting for position, to establish who is the strongest. While age may play a role, it is typically established by the biggest and strongest cow. Each group of cattle that live together will have a “pecking order” or order of dominance. Highland cattle have a hierarchy system within the herd or fold. The horn spread on a mature cow is usually between 36” and 48”. A bull’s horns are typically curved forward and thick, while a cow’s horns will curve up and spread wider with age. The temperature regulating function of the horns allows the cow’s digestive system to operate at its highest efficiency. The rumen (stomach) of a cow is approximately 1 degree warmer than the cow’s body temperature. In the warmer months, the horns are critical for the health of the cow. The blood flowing through the horns is cooled, much like a radiator in a car, before circulating through the body. In addition, the horns are very vascular. They can move brush aside for foraging, scratch a pesky itch on their back, and protect thier young. These majestic animals are able to use their horns with almost surgeon-like precision. These horns are as much a necessity to the cow as your arm is to you. The long-curled horns of a Highland cow are beautiful and intimidating at the same time. The hair tends to thin during the warm months but will become thick and long during the colder months. It also gives the cows summer protection against flies in their eyes and face. The hair, known as the “dossen”, serves as a shield for wind, rain, sleet, and snow. The most recognized trait of a Scottish Highland cow is the long shaggy fringe of hair covering the face and eyes. The Highland cattle on Cyrus Ridge Farm are selected, bred, and trained to be friendly and docile with their owners. We are able to enjoy the benefits of those years of selective breeding. Of course, it was crucial that their cattle had docile and friendly personalities with these living arrangements. They would bring their cow(s) into the house during the winter to generate heat for the family and to keep the cow safe from predators or thieves. Most of the Highland mountain farmers didn’t have the means or space to build barns and shelters for their cows. These cows continue to meet all the criteria for which they were originally bred. Through centuries of selective breeding the Scottish Highland cattle breed was developed. They found themselves looking for a cattle breed that would be able to survive the harsh winters, provide calcium & protein rich milk, and offer tasty lean meat. The families were unable to feed or sustain a large herd of cattle.
The homesteads in the mountain regions were relatively small, mostly restricted by the geography. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the Scottish Highland cattle breed is the product of a dire necessity. The Scotts, being a resilient and determined clan, found ways to make life in the mountains comfortable. The primary challenge for these settlers was to survive in the harsh climate.
This mountainous region was inhabited as early as the 14th century by the Scottish settlers who wanted to move out of the “crowded” lowlands area. The Scottish Highland cattle breed originates from the Gaelic region of Scotland known as the Highlands.
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