75 Years With the Grande Old Breed

It’s one of the oldest breeds in the world, but Highland cattle have become one of the new favorites with today’s hobby farmers.

Highland cattle originated in the Highlands and west coastal islands of Scotland as far back as the 6th century, able to survive the extremely harsh conditions of the rugged and remote landscape.

The American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Founded at the Double X Ranch in Belvidere, South Dakota, in 1948, AHCA has the only globally recognized American Highland herdbook. With 75 years of cattle registrations, the book has direct connections to every other leading Highland cattle organization in the world.

“There wouldn’t be any true Highlands in the United States if it wasn’t for AHCA,” say Tom McConnell, AHCA 75th anniversary chairperson. “We owe our gratitude to the association’s founding members for having the foresight to keep our nation’s Highland cattle traceable back to the herd book in Scotland, which dates all the way back to 1885.”

Thanks to their attractive physique and high-quality beef, Highland cattle have become quite popular in the U.S. AHCA President Josh Krenz says having more than 2,000 members and nearly 65,000 registered full-blood Highlands is a testament to the organization’s strength and stability.

“They are traditionally known for being docile, and they have high-quality meat that is low in fat and low in cholesterol,” Krenz says. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg — or the horn — to explain the Highl and’s popularity.

They make excellent mothers; even firstcalf heifers have a strong mothering instinct. They also are easy calvers.