Pollok Country Park is home to Glasgow City Council’s pedigree fold of Highland Cattle. Highlanders have a long association with Pollok Estate, as the original owners of the land, the Maxwell Family, were breeding prizewinning cattle here c.1830.
Today the cattle number approximately 100 animals, with a nucleus of 45 breeding cows plus bulls and younger animals. All the cattle are pedigree and registered with the Highland Cattle Society and each animal is named, traditionally in the Gaelic, following family names.
A collection of Highland Cattle is known as a FOLD. This term has been used since the original crofters gathered their animals into an open enclosure or fold for protection.
The original colour of the breed was black. Today red is the most popular colour, but highlanders come in a variety of colours : black, white, red, yellow, dun, brindle and parti-colour (any of the recognised colours mixed with white). Glasgow’s Highland Cattle fold has animals from the full spectrum of colours.
Highland Cattle are a native breed originating in the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. Fearsome, yet placid in nature, these hardy cattle retain the primitive characteristics and strong survival instincts now lost in many of the modern breeds of beef cattle.
Highland Cattle from the Pollok Fold are shown at local and national agricultural shows around the country, often winning the top awards.
The judges eye is sharp and critical – good points include a straight back and deep body, good legs, a profusion of hair and an attractive head and horns.
Preparing the cattle for the show ring or the local gala day and ensuring the animals are turned out looking their very best takes a great deal of time and expertise.
The Highland Cattle can be seen grazing in the policy fields in Pollok Country Park, The Highland Cattle from Pollok attend gala days and Country to City Days held in local parks around the city.
Hairy Coo Herald