# Highland Cattle (*Bos taurus*) Highland Cattle are fluffy and friendly cows with long horns! They love to roam in the hills and munch on grass. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Highland pastures and grassy hills in colder regions. - **Also known as:** Hairy Cattle, Highland Cow, Scottish Highland ![Highland Cattle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Toro_25M.jpg&width=800) Photo: Buenoperez, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toro_25M.jpg) ## Appearance The Highland Cattle has a distinctive long, shaggy double-layered coat that comes in various colors like red, black, yellow, or brindle. It also possesses long, wide-spreading horns that curve elegantly upwards. This unique appearance makes it instantly recognizable compared to other cattle breeds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Bos ## Interesting facts - A group of Highland cattle is called a "fold," not a herd! - Despite their impressive horns, these cattle are known for being very gentle and calm. - Highland cattle are affectionately known as "hairy coos" in Scotland! - They are one of the oldest cattle breeds, with roots going back to the 6th century. ## Special abilities - **Winter Coat Wonder:** Highland Cattle has a double-layered, shaggy coat that helps them stay warm even in harsh Scottish winters. - **Tough Terrain Tamer:** Highland Cattle can navigate steep, rocky hills because of their strong legs and broad hooves, helping them find food. - **Horned Harvester:** Highland Cattle can use their long horns to push aside deep snow or tough vegetation, helping them reach hidden grass. - **Hardy Herbivore:** Highland Cattle has a strong digestive system that helps them thrive on poor quality forage and coarse plants. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 250-350 cm - **Weight:** 450-900 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 24 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 280-290 days ## Diet & Feeding These hardy grazers love to munch on tough plants found in their rugged environments. - **Primary Foods:** Grass, Heather, Thistles, Rushes, Bushes - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — for breeding and care - **Eats:** [Heather](https://www.snappit.app/explore/heather) (*Calluna vulgaris*) — a hardy diet staple - **Eats:** Red Fescue (*Festuca rubra*) — common grass they graze - **Parasitizes:** Lancelet liver fluke (*Dicrocoelium dendriticum*) — can infect cattle ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always observe from a distance to keep safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Highland Cattle? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Highland Cattle? 250-350 cm ### How much does Highland Cattle weigh? 450-900 kg ### How long does Highland Cattle live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Highland Cattle move? 24 km/h ### What does Highland Cattle eat? These hardy grazers love to munch on tough plants found in their rugged environments. ### Where is Highland Cattle usually found? Highland pastures and grassy hills in colder regions. ### How does Highland Cattle hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chattanooga-zoo-at-warner-park) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Red River Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Rolling Hills Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rolling-hills-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Busch Gardens Williamsburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/busch-gardens-williamsburg) — Virginia, US · Zoo - [Phillips Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/phillips-park-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wales-ape-and-monkey-sanctuary) — Wales, GB · Zoo [View all places to see Highland Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/highland-cattle) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Highland Cattle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/highland-cattle)