Why are Highland Cows Called Coos?

"Coo" is a Scottish word for "cow". Hairy Coos, Heilin' Cattle, Highland Cows

Highland Cattle are the oldest registered breed in the world. Synonymous with Scotland, the hairy coo shares its notoriety with Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, the unicorn- Scotland’s national animal and the dreaded midge which is a wee sleekit gnat and the bane of every outdoor person’s life.

The Heilin' Coo originated in the Highlands of Scotland and on the Western Isles. They are easily recognisable by their horns and long, shaggy coats which allow them to survive outdoors, even in harsh winters and can live up to 22 years. The horns of the female are narrower at the base and longer and thinner at the tip, than those of the male whose horns are curved forward and sometimes downwards. They will happily graze on poorer vegetation that other cattle would not, and their milk is very rich with a high butterfat content. Their meat is considered to be healthier than many other bovines with less fat and cholesterol.

These animals are intelligent and sociable, with a herd hierarchy that maintains an equilibrium, preventing aggression against one another. They are generally friendly, curious and docile beasts but should always be respected and not approached, especially if there are calves at foot. Every mother is protective of her baby. Although not known to be aggressive, they can attack if startled or frightened.

Hairy Coos come in a variety of colours including beige, black, brindle, greyish, red and ginger. Ginger is the most common colour, primarily as this was favoured by the Victorians who concentrated on breeding ginger coos.

Highland Cattle have been exported all over the world with some even grazing in the Andes at over 10,000 feet! Fortunately, here we don’t have to go so high to see our hairy coos but you can on my Castles, Coos and Coastline tour.