The Australian Home of Traditional Highland Cattle

 

Outstanding Temperament - Premium Beef

 

Highland Beef the Best Beef - The way Beef used to taste

Highland Cattle are generally accepted to mature into high quality carcasses, with little surface fat and high amounts of fine marbling through the meat. The meat is succulent and tender and this is because Highland Cattle are slow maturing unlike other breeds.   Ennerdale Highland Cattle are naturally fed on Native Grasses which contain almost double the amount of  beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids when compared to grain fed Cattle which contain more (on average 80%) less beneficial Omega 6 fatty acids.  Traditionally in their Homeland Scottish Highland Cattle are believed to produce the tastiest & most succulent Beef and attracts a healthy premium when compared to other British Cattle Breeds. Highland Beef is often referred to as the way beef used to taste.

Highland Beef- "Those who taste  know"

 

Highland Cattle are an ancient breed that has nibbled on Scottish grass from the 6th century. It is still not known whether the cattle evolved  in Scotland or whether they came from Scandinavia with the Norse Invaders.

Many Scholars think that the Highland Cattle are the end result of combining two ancient Asiatic breeds,  the Bos Longifrons and the Bos Primigenius. The Highland Cattle inherit their long horns from the Longifrons and inherit their long hair from the Primigenius.

Highland Cattle are dual purpose cattle and have provided a supply of milk and meat for many hundreds of years and are still successfully used to provide milk and high quality meat in many countries.

Cattle history in Australia

Highland Cattle were imported into Australia in the 19th century. They were first brought into Australia (Victoria) in 1841 and later spread to South Australia , New South Wales and Tasmania.

The recent history of Highland Cattle began in 1954 when two in-calf cows and a bull were imported into South Australia .

During the 1980's the interest in Highland Cattle rose. With articles in newspapers, television shows, showing highland cattle at various shows and more live cattle were imported.

AI (Artificial insemination) programmes started occurring by importing  semen from various bulls from Scotland, this continues today and Bulls are still sourced from the United Kingdom as well as Canada, New Zealand and the United States.  The technology also exists to transfer embryos such as the Bull  Duncan of Toona Vale from other countries by following strict quarantine protocols.

Highland Cattle are now not bought in live because of danger of introducing  disease not present in Australia - for example Foot & Mouth disease and BSE (Mad Cow disease).