Highlands are famous for their adaptability and gentle nature making them ideal for small farms where the owners like to get to know their individual animals.
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Sally was born to a highland dam and longhorn sire on large ranch with little human contact yet she learned to trust close contact with humans as an adult. Now she "talks" to us and goes out of her way to get attention. She has passed this on to her many offspring. Here she's checking out Dawn Ann.
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MacDean enjoying some attention from the "boss".
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Many old Scottish paintings depict highland cattle and sheep grazing together. Our shetland sheep are comfortable around the highlands. It's fairly common to see the bucks getting a lick.
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Cats are cool too.
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Barney keeping an ear on a secure lamb.
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As a dual purpose breed, highlands have a long history of living with and serving people as draft animals and sources of milk and meat. Here Gus is getting broke to ride and seems to enjoy the attention.
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During centuries of close contact with humans, the aggressive personalities have largely been weeded out of the breed. While any bovine breed has its mean individuals, I have rarely experienced hornery highlands. Occasionally issues arise but most can be linked to management mistakes. Highlands do not respond well to high pressure handling and new mothers are very protective. I never mess with a bulls head no matter what its age.
Here a customer enjoys the friendly nature of their highland, longhorn bull.
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It's easy and convenient to get Highlands to come when called.
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12-09
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Solus goes out of his way for human touch.
Can you spot the calf learning from his dad?
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| Sissy knows I'll scratch the right spot. |
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© Copyrights 2003-2010, Gumbo Highlands, Miles City, MT, USA, All Rights Reserved
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