The Galloway Cattle

The Molslaboratoriet belongs to Naturhistorisk Museum in Århus and is placed in beautiful surroundings in Mols Bjerge Nationalpark. It is EF habitat area 186 and lies on the southern part of Djursland. In this area was since 1941 done a comprehensive ecological research.

The Galloway cattle is grazing in this area.


This Galloway bull was not at all interested in any contact. He disappeared as quickly as possible behind some trees. He looked very heavy and butterfat.

The Galloway cattle has its origin from the district Galloway in southwest Scotland. It comes from a dominant hornless race, which survived as feral cattle in Great Britain until the beginning of the 1800s. It is supposedly related to the hornless domestic cattle of the Scythians. (485-425 B.C.) It came to the British Isles before written sources exist and its arrival might coincide with the immigration of the Celtic tribes. But the prototype was spread in middle and northern Europe. Hornless domestic cattle is continuously mentioned in historic sources with traditions back to the Skoto-Saxon period (400-800 A.C.)

The original use of Galloway was as milking and beef cattle. In the early Middle Ages the agriculture was changed caused by an expansion of the wool industry in Europe, and the sheep became the dominating domestic animals. The main task of the cattle then was to keep the good grazing, where some of the plants were neglected by the sheep. This way of grazing is still kept in the Galloway district, where they say: "The sheep provide the bread, but the Galloway the butter and jam."



Although black is still the most common colour for Galloways, they can also be red and several shades of dun. A variation is belted Galloway. Galloways are quiet and easy to deal with, but if they are exposed to a threat, the flock sticks together to face the enemy. They are capable of digesting large amounts of nutrient-poor growth like heather and can survive at very poor grazing-areas - like heaths. The animals live long and are very fertile. The cows are known as solicitous mothers with much milk, and they can raise calves even under difficult conditions. Their fur and their resistance to diseases make them very tough and they can stay out all year. In Denmark the Galloway cattle is especially used for nature care. There are about 1000 Galloways in Denmark p.t.

Source: Molslaboratoriet, Naturhistorisk Museum, Århus Universitet.



The Galloways are not shy, they are just not curious or interested in a talk like the Hereford cattle, which is also grazing in this neighbourhood. This lovely fat bull calf had no comments.

"Hello sweetie, what fine curls you have!"
"Mmmmnn"
"May I take a photo?"
"Mmmnnn"
"Thank you, curley! Have a nice day!"
" Mmnnn! I couldn't care less!"

photo 4 September 2010, Molslaboratoriet, Strandkær, Mols: grethe bachmann

Highland Cattle, Egtved, South Jutland

In a swampy meadow by the water streams of Egtved Å, which is only a brook in this picturesque place, we met the loveliest Highland cattle. They had the characteristic soft colours and the thick woolen fur. They walked silently in thick swampy mud and sometimes looked as if they were stuck in it - but they did handle it in a calm way, they got up from the mud without problems in spite of their heavy-weight. They are so sweet with that fringe and the fine long horns.



The first Highland Cattle were imported to Denmark in 1956 and since then the numbers has increased. According to the statistics from The Danish Agricultural Advisory Center - Highland Cattle is 6 in numbers out of 17 Beef Breeds in the country with 4869 purebred Highlanders. There are 737 farms where pure breed of Highland Cattle are registered and there are 1943 pure bred Highland cows.



Highland cattle or kyloe are an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and long wavy pelts which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun. The breed developed in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. Highlands are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds. They both graze and browse and eat plants many other cattle avoid. The meat tends to be leaner than most beef, as Highlands get most of their insulation from their thick shaggy hair rather than subcutaneous fat. The coat also makes them a good breed for cold Northern climates.

The Highland cattle registry ("herd book") was established in 1885. Although groups of cattle are generally called herds, a group of highlands is known as a fold. They were also known as kyloes in Scots. Highland cattle have been successfully established in many temperate countries. Their hair provides protection during the cold winters and their skill in browsing for food enables them to survive in steep mountain areas.

Some are of the opinion that the Highland cattle descend from the European aurochs, who walked in the Scottish forests as far back as the last Ice Age - others that the Highland comes from Asia and came to the northern England with the first settlers more than 5000 years ago. The breeders have always tried to keep the original characteristics.


photo Highland cattle Egtved 20.10.2007: grethe bachmann