Coos

(what Scottish Highland Cattle are called in Scottland)

from Bill and Kae Arrington's  Big Ridge highlands

Haydn is tolerant of the girls stealing his sweet feed. He is a real gentleman and I've never seen an aggressive move, not even testy. Here he is with Flicka.

About 125 acres of our farm is fenced and used for pasture. We live on the west slope of "the Big Ridge" with elevations ranging from approximately 2600 feet to 4000 feet. This is our gentle sloping lower pasture where the cattle stay the winter. I am taking the picture about 3200 ft elevation.

Occasionally we bring the Coos down to the "Hay Pastures" along Brummetts Creek to let them clean up the edges and areas the hay cutter can not access.  Kae is walking them down the state road that runs along Brummetts Creek to the pasture gate. They are rather manageable when you have some sweet feed.

While down at the Hay Pastures, Simone gave birth to "Little Houston" the same time of the same morning Kae's dad (Houston Henderson) passed away, 12/31/2007.  I went down to feed the cattle while Kae was getting ready to go to the hospital and Little Houston was soaking wet and rose on her new legs to greet me. My first glance told me a bull and with all the confusion it was a couple days before I realized Little Houston was a SHE! I had been waiting for a Brindle calf and was happy to get one. (she is now jet black)

Little houston's Momma, Simone, never strays far from her side, especially when that pesky Steaks was near by.

Little Houston lost that brindle hair and went all BLACK.  Her hair is black and also her nose hooves and TONGUE Are all Black! And,

Little Houston had her first calf this year (x Haydn). (Calf at one day old)

Her calf below is about 5-6 months old and she can't deny this little girl. We thought she was going to be a brindle also but her brindle hair is giving way to all black, including the nose, hooves and Tongue!

Steaks was made a steer at a couple weeks old but he never lost the ATTITUDE !

As you can see, he never missed a meal either!

Dixie is 17 and one of the finest cows we own.  We are hoping for a heifer calf out of her and Haydn this summer.  This is Dixie below with her bull calf "Bully" at 2 days old.  Bully went to live near Hendersonville.

Kae was elated when Bully was born as her first Highland calf.  She also learned that Coos are very protective of their young.  She picked up Bully for this picture and he let out a cry.  Not only did Dixie come running, the entire herd came at a full run with no stopping.  Kae was able to avoid contact but when she jumped across the creek to get away, she broke her ankle.

Dixie at 18 1/2 years old

Dixie x Haydn Heifer, Mandy, who was recently purchased By Young Sprout Farm in Texas. Below at 11 months

Dixies daughter, Britta

Britta x Haydn heifer, Ruby

Our first herd sire, "Shine"

Little Houston's and Rangers Dam, Simone

Ranger, the week he turned 12 months, Grass fed beauty and my "eye candy"

Ranger was our "Eye Candy" and we loved to see him in the pasture by the house. He was recently purchased by Young Sprout Farm, CONGRATULATIONS!

Simone x Shine Daughter,  Flika

Myrtle ( x Haydn) with her boy Duncan (at 3 months old)

Duncan (3 Months) and Full sister Rose (at about 15 months)         

I think it is apparent Haydn adds depth and width to his calves, as well as "The Scottish Look".

The Scottish Highland Cattle are an old heritage breed many cattle were bred from, (like today's popular Angus cattle).  The beauty of the Scottish Highland Cattle is they still possess many natural instincts and traits.  They are hardy, prefer to browse brush rather than eat grass, mate and calve without human help or intervention, protect each other and their young, and have conformation to enable them to make use of rough steep terrain.  I have seen a dog attack a heifer.  The heifer cried out and ran to where the herd was gathering in a tight circle with their horns pointed outward. The circled herd parted to let the heifer into the center and quickly closed behind her with sharp horns on lowered heads that would pierce any foe. 

Our Lacey walked up to Little Houston once with her tail wagging to get a sniff of her new family member.  Simone stepped between them and with surgical accuracy, picked up Lacey with one horn and threw her 25 feet, where Lacey's 126 pounds hit the wall 3 feet from the floor.  

The true Beauty of the breed is seen watching the herd grazing the pasture with the wind moving that gorgeous long hair.

A Great link to the ASHCA web site:   http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/highland.html

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