CHAPTER XXXII 



THE WEST HIGHLAND 



The native home of West Highland cattle is in the elevated 

 uplands of western Scotland. This particularly applies to that 

 section known as the Highlands in Argyll, Inverness, and Perth 

 counties, and the Hebrides Islands off the west coast. 



The origin of the West Highland breed, which has also been 

 called the "Kyloe " by some, is generally conceded to be derived 

 from the aboriginal cattle of Britain, of which the present wild 

 white cattle are descendants. This breed has been known for 

 centuries, but has been kept on a comparatively small scale. 

 During the first half of the last century two of the herds that 

 improved the breed were those of Mr. Malcolm of Poltalloch in 

 Argyll and the Marquis of Breadalbane of Perth. 



The introduction of the West Highland cattle to America is of 

 only passing moment. In 1879 Lewis F. Allen, one of the 

 best-informed cattle authorities in America in the nineteenth 

 century, stated that he knew of none in the United States, but 

 was of the impression that a few were imported into Upper 

 Canada some years before. About 1883 some West Highlanders 

 were imported, among which was the cow Maid of Castle Grant, 

 which was shown at a number of fairs in 1888 and 1889 by 

 Judge J. S. Goodwin of Kansas. In 1891 several West High- 

 land cattle were exhibited at the American Fat Stock Show 

 at Chicago. In 1902 Mr. W. M. Van Norden of Westchester 

 County, New York, imported a small herd and made an exhibit 

 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. Other cattle of 

 this breed were imported by several persons in 1906. 



Characteristics of West Highland cattle. This breed is very 

 picturesque and distinct in character. The color is variable, being 

 yellow, red, black, brindle, and a mixture of red and black, the 

 former color predominating. Broken colors are not liked. In one 



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