Scottish Highland

The Scottish Highland is perhaps the best known semi-wild herbivore in the Dutch countryside. This red-brown cattle breed is extremely self-reliant and amiable, which is why it is used in many nature reserves in The Netherlands. This breed lives in large areas ranging from several thousand hectares, such as the Lauwersmeer and Veluwe Zoom, to small, but valuable, areas of only a few hectares in size often nearby urban areas.

As its name suggests, this breed originated in the Scottish Highlands. Here, the animals were either herded or had a semi-wild existence. Large herds of cattle were regularly driven together and led on horseback all the way to the abattoirs in London. The Scottish Highland cattle is one of the oldest bovine breeds in the United Kingdom. Originally, most animals were black, but by royal decree of Queen Victoria - whom preferred the red coat - the red animals were actively selected. In addition, blond varieties also occur.

As an ancient, primitive breed, Scottish Highland cattle is the only breed that managed to survive in the rugged highlands of Scotland. This created characteristics that are perfect for independent survival in the wild, such as having a good winter coat and being sexually mature at a later age. Its quiet demeanour makes the breed ideally suited for grazing crowded, urban natural areas. Yet the breed also has its disadvantages. Not only does it have a thick winter coat, it also retains a relatively thick coat in summer. This causes the animals to heat up quickly, which means they like to stand in the water to cool off. Not a problem in the river area, but in the waters of stream valleys, this can lead to fertilization of pools and streams.