Selected Beef Breeds.

(The majority of Scotch Beef is traditionally produced from cross-breeds).

Galloway. Galloways are a hardy breed that originated on the exposed uplands of Galloway in the South West of Scotland. Colours are black, dun, red or belted, with the characteristic white belt encircling the body.

These naturally polled animals are eminently suited for converting rough grazing into lean meat. Their double coat of long outer hair to shed the rain and soft undercoat for warmth eliminate the need for expensive winter housing. The cows are long living and noted for their rich milk, so make good sucklers for rearing calves by terminal sires, as well as being used for pure breeding.

Aberdeen-Angus. Aberdeen-Angus is the fastest growing breed of beef cattle in the British Isles, indeed in the world, which reflects growing consumer demand for quality beef with the guarantee and assurance of quality which only Aberdeen-Angus can offer.

Aberdeen-Angus cattle are easily managed which is an important economic consideration with less labour available on most farms. Advantages include natural polling (hornlessness) which makes for easy calving, regular breeding, good foraging ability, longevity and the ability to produce the highest quality beef naturally on
a minimum of concentrate feeding. Aberdeen-Angus cross calves grow quickly and efficiently into highly acceptable quality carcases which meet the modern demand for medium-sized carcases of around 280kg - 320kg.

Shorthorn. Records of the Beef Shorthorn can be found back to the 18th century. Many of the first notable breeders were farming in the North East of England, and gave rise to the early name of the breed, the Durham. The Beef Shorthorn is registered in the oldest herd book in the world, the first volume being published in 1822. During the 19th century two distinct strains of cattle were bred; one predominantly for milk production and the other concentrating on beef quality. Many of the main Beef Shorthorn herds were developed in Scotland.

The breed is characterised by its colour, and cattle can be a deep red, white, or a mixture of the two, roan. It is a medium to large breed, with a characteristic strength of bone and structural robustness. Despite a period between the 1970's and the 1990's when the breed became unfashionable and seriously declined in numbers, the breed is now undergoing a major resurgence.

Highland. This handsome, hardy, native Scottish breed, typified in appearance by long, flowing hair and majestic, sweeping horns, has a long and distinguished history throughout the world.

On the vast acreages of poor mountain land with high rainfall, Highland cattle excel and thrive where no other cattle breed could exist. Making the most of poor forage, calving outside in all weathers and seldom, if ever, housed they make a real economic contribution to hill and upland areas. Able to withstand extreme weather conditions and to survive naturally and comfortably with no need for extensive feeding of concentrates, the breed also enjoys great longevity.

The unique maternal attributes of the pure Highland cow make her the first choice for the production of commercial hill cows. These can be sired by many different breeds of bull; recently excellent results have been obtained using continental sires. Pure Highland beef is able to command a premium price over other beef due to its fine texture, succulent flavour and healthy eating appeal. It is slow-maturing, producing beef that is lean but well-marbled with low fat and cholesterol levels, whilst remaining rich in protein and taste, criteria increasingly demanded by today's market.

Selected Sheep Breeds

(The majority of Scotch Lamb is traditionally produced from cross-breeds).

Scottish Blackface. This is the most numerous sheep breed in the Scottish sheep industry due to its hardiness and adaptability. The history of the breed is lost in the midst of time but there are monastery records going back to the 12th Century that make reference to a Blackface breed of sheep.

The breed was developed to utilise to best advantage the hill and mountain grazings in Scotland and this has lead to the development of distinct types within the breed:
The Perth type which is found mainly in East Scotland and Northern Ireland; The Lanark type, which integrated with the Newton Stewart type, benefiting both milking ability and hardiness, is dominant in much of Scotland and areas of Ireland is of medium size, with shorter wool than the Perth type.

Cheviots. It is now over 200 years since the first Cheviots came to Caithness, in the far north of Scotland, as part of a programme to improve sheep stock in the area. As a result of their success they became the predominant breed in the north, developing into what is now known as the North Country Cheviot (NCC).

The strong maternal instinct, carcase quality, reliability, thriftiness
and adaptability of the breed are widely recognised and the North Country Cheviot ewe produces a quality prime lamb whether bred pure or crossed. NCC rams can also be used successfully with other hill breeds to give added size and improved conformation.

Scotch Mule. The Scotch Mule is a produced by crossing a Blue Faced Leicester ram with a Scottish Blackface dam and it is only in recent times that this particular cross has been recognised as a distinct breed.

The hybrid vigour produced by this cross ensures that the Scotch Mule ewe is able to produce and rear a prolific crop of lambs under virtually any system including in-wintering. It is also very hardy a trait inherited from its Scottish Blackface mother and the Scotch mule makes optimum use of the food provided. She will lamb with the minimum of attention to any breed of ram and is an ideal dam for today's sheep industry.

Texel Sheep. The first Texels were imported into Scotland from France in the 1970's by breeders who wanted to improve the conformation and carcase quality of some of the native breeds, particularly with respect to leanness and improving areas such as the gigot.

The Scottish Texel has been bred to have a bit more length than the original imported animals to satisfy the UK meat trade. It is now the main terminal sire breed in Scotland. The Texel has also been found to produce a hardy crossbred lamb when crossed with the Scottish Blackface as well as other breeds.

Shetland Sheep. The Shetland sheep is a distinctive breed unique to the Shetland Isles. Shetland Sheep belong to the Northern 'Finntail' or shortail family of sheep. It is thought that the breed originated from Norway and was introduced to the Islands around 500AD. The genetic make-up of the breed is largely unchanged since that time. Shetland sheep have adapted and evolved superbly to cope with the UK's harshest climate. In contrast, the breed converts very well to improved pastures, adding prolificacy to its existing good mothering qualities, longevity and easy maintenance.

The breed has become synonymous with quality meat and fine quality wool and although white is the most prevalent colour among Shetland Sheep today, there are still over 50 different and very distinctive colour marking varieties.

Scottish Farming Heritage | Scottish Breeds