Chapter XLV. 



WEST HIGHLAND CATTLE. 



{Kyloes. ) 



This breed is undoubtedly native to the Highlands of West Scot- 

 land and the islands along the coast. The mountain breeds of Scot- 

 land may all be referred to the same original stock and their variations 

 at the present time, ascribed to climatic or other natural and artificial 

 conditions under which they have been reared. As in Wales we have 

 the Pembroke and North Wales Cattle, so in Scotland we have the 

 West Highlands, as direct descendants of the original Forest stock. 



Improvement of the breed has been effected mainly by selection 

 and careful in-breeding. About the middle of the last century, the Duke 

 of Argyle commenced a systematic course of breeding, which soon called 

 public attention to the herds of Argyleshire ; in course of time the 

 superior quality of his stock was communicated to all the cattle of the 

 Highlands, and has since served as a basis for their continued excel- 

 lence and improvement. The Hebridean farmers especially, declare 

 that the Kyloes are as nearly perfect, for that locality, as may be, and 

 assert positively that outcrosses, whenever tried, have only tended to 

 render the offspring less hardy without increasing either quality or 

 quantity of beef. Several importations have recently been made to the 

 United States and Canada, and we may confidently look for more exten- 

 sive introduction in the future. 



DESCRIPTION . 



Color black ; until late years, this color was not so strictly ad- 

 hered to brown, brindle, dun and other colors were nearly as common 

 as black ; even now, while the fashionable Kyloe must be black, there 

 are many animals of equal merit showing other colors; indeed we are in- 

 clined to agree with Prof. Low when he says : 



"The breeders should look to the essential character of form, without limiting 

 themselves to a black color of the hair, which is a property altogether secondary." 



The face is broad, tapering to a narrow muzzle, and showing a 

 gradual dish or curvature from the horns to the nose. The eyes are 

 prominent, bright and restless ; ears well carried, and thickly covered 

 with hair ; horns middle sized, broad and waxy at base, and curving 

 upward to sharp points of a darker shade ; neck short, with considerable 



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