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Of all the representatives of our British bovine breeds, the
Highlander has the grandest and most picturesque head; it
is, indeed, to his head that he owes his great favour among
artists. As a rule, it is most proportionate to the body of
the animal, and is broad between the eyes, while short from
the eyes to the point of the muzzle. The forelock between
the eyes should be wide, long and bushy, and any nakedness
or bareness there is certain to detract from the appearance
of the animal. Some would almost have the hair so wide there
as to obscure the eyes, but this in many cases would be allowing
one good point to over-shadow another. The eyes should be
bright and full, and denoting, when excited, high courage.
When viewed sideways, there should be a proportionate breadth
of the jawbones readily observable, when compared with the
width of the head in front, whilst the muzzle should, when
looked at from a similar point, be short, though very broad
in front, and with the nostrils fully distended, and indicating
breeding in every way. One of the most noteworthy features
in a Highlander, is of course, the horns. In the bulls, the
horns should be strong, and come level out of the head, slightly
inclining forwards, and also slightly rising towards the points.
Some, however, do not care for this rise, though any drooping
is considered to be a very bad fault when between the crown
and the commencement of the curve, as this is generally accompanied
by a low weak back. Some, too, are of opinion that the masculine
appearance is slightly detracted from when the horns rise
directly from the crown. This, however, can only readily be
detected and commented upon when particular animals are brought
before experienced judges, as within a show ring.
As regards the horns of the cow, there prevail two opinions.
As a rule, they come squarer out from the head than in the
male, rise sooner, and are somewhat longer, though they preserve
their substance and a rich reddish appearance to the very
tips. The lack of the appearance of substance or "sappiness"
about the horns of the male would be very much against the
animal in the show-yard. The other taste is that for a female,
the horns of which come more level from the head, with a peculiar
back set curve, and very wide sweep. A large number of enthusiastic
breeders seem to prefer, by comparison, the latter, which
gives possibly the more graceful appearance. In all cases,
however, the horns of a Highlander, when well set, gives the
animal a stamp of nobility which causes it to attract the
attention of any stranger who might pass heedlessly by animals
of other breeds as merely cows, bulls or oxen.
The neck should be altogether clear and without dewlap below.
It should form a straight line from the head to the shoulder
in the cow, but in the bulls should have that distinct crest
common to all animals of the bovine species. This crest should
come gracefully down to the roots of the horns, and, being
well coated with wavy hair, the masculine appearance of the
animal is fully completed. The shoulder should be thick and
should fill out greatly as it descends from the point to the
lower extremity of the forearm.
From behind the shoulder the back should be fully developed
and beautifully rounded. Any slight sinking or hollow is most
decidedly objectionable. It should also, as in the Ayrshire,
be as straight as possible, and the ribs should spring boldly
out and be both well rounded and deep. When measured across
the hips the breadth should be very great, and the quarters
should be exceedingly well developed from the hips backwards.
The thighs should also be well developed, and should show
great fullness. Viewed generally, the quarters should be square
between the hips and the tail, and from between the tail right
down to between the hind feet. The legs, both before and behind,
should be short and strong, the bones strong, broad, and straight,
the hoofs well set in and large, and the legs well feathered
with hair. The animal should be set wide between the fore-legs,
and it should move with great dignity and style, as this is
considered to be one of the most reliable evidences of careful
and true breeding.
The hair, of which there should be a great profusion, more
particularly on the parts indicated, should be long and gracefully
waved, very much as in what dog-breeders denote wavy-coated
retrievers. To have a curl is to possess a decided fault,
and one which has of late years become unfortunately too common
in some folds. This has been attributed in some quarters to
a growing desire to make Highlanders grow big from feeding
them higher and housing them more. At any rate, experience
goes far to prove that the more exposed they are the greater
the profusion of the hair, and the less its tendency to curl.
Thus, the reason of the island cattle being always so much
better haired than the mainland cattle is owing to their never
being housed in winter.
The usual colours are black, brindled, red, yellow, and dun,
and there is considerable difference of opinion among breeders
as to which is preferable.
In general, as to colour, it may be said that a good herd
should possess a mixture - avoiding always all those which
indicate unhealthy thrivers. The thickness of the skin, as
in all fattening breeds, comes in for a considerable amount
of attention, but it has to be borne in mind always that the
Highlander has been adapted by nature to withstand great exposure.
Inverness, 10th June, 1885.
Source: Highland Cattle Society
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