The Iconic Hairy Highland Cow
Dear Diary,
I remember vividly when my Mum told me about these gentle giants before our first Scotland holiday.
She was overly keen to show them to me after her first encounter during a school exchange some 20-odd years ago.
You will love them, she said.
They are nothing like our cows at all. They are majestic. They are very cute and fluffy thanks to their long and shaggy hair. Plus, they are colourful, making them extremely photogenic.
They certainly represent Scottland like no other animal. Sorry to disappoint you here but unicorns don’t really exist ...
And of course, she was right.
It was love at first sight.
And since then I have become a tad obsessed. You can spot cows all around my flat, coming in different forms, shapes and sizes. I just can’t get enough.
I mean just look at them, how could you resist?
5 Hairy Coos Facts
Highland Cows are the oldest registered breed of cattle in the world.
Records date back as far as the 6th century, a very long time ago indeed.
They are known for being a very robust breed. Scottish winters up in the Highlands can be brutal, so no wonder they have sustained for that long.
They come in a variety of colours.
You probably pictured a ginger cow straight away. Though their original colour was actually black. But you can also find yellow, brindle (tiger-striped), dun (brownish-dark grey) and even white ones.
It’s said that the Victorians much preferred the ginger ones and selectively bred them until they became dominant. I couldn’t agree more.
A group of Highland Cows is called a ‘fold’.
Calling them a herd like any other group of normal cows wouldn’t do them justice.
The name ‘fold’ refers to the open stone shelters they can be kept in during the winter months.
Their vision might be slightly restricted.
Another iconic feature of the hairy coo is its long fringe. Also known as the ‘dossan’.
It helps them keep the wind, rain and annoying insects (be aware of the midges!) out of their eyes. So their bangs are actually rather useful than hindering.
Their long horns are a handy tool.
Like a built-in shovel. The cows use their horns for foraging food by digging through the ground and snow.
You can also distinguish the sex by their horns.
Females have narrowed and longer ones which grow upwards with a curve at the tip. Whereas bulls’ horns are thicker and grow forward. Part of their more aggressive and dominant appearance.
And because I can never get enough of cute coo content, and yes it’s not always about cats, here’s a short video introducing you to my second favourite animal.