THE WEST HIGHLAND 



241 



graze on grass and heather, they seem capable of enduring the 

 roughest climate. In a letter on this breed the Earl of Dunmore 

 wrote in 1887, bearing on their suitability to the more exposed 

 northwestern American range : 



My average yearly loss has not been three per cent, which in a large fold 

 of some four or five hundred head of cattle is very small. January, February, 

 and March are pretty hard months for them, as they get no food beyond what 

 they pick up on the hills where they are wintered. I have often seen them 

 scraping away the snow to get at the grass ; but notwithstanding their being 

 out all winter, they produce in April and May as strong and lusty-looking 

 calves as a man could wish to see, with lots of bone and tremendous thick coats. 

 That, to my mind, is the coming breed for the great northwestern ranges. 



Fig. 103. A group of Highland cattle. Photograph from'G. M. Rommel, 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



The milking qualities of the West Highland are not important, 

 for the cows are milked usually by the calves only. The milk, 

 however, is considered rich in quality. 



The breeding qualities of West Highland cattle rank high, 

 though the heifers are not bred the first time until three years 

 of age. Earl Dunmore states that he could quote from his 

 private herdbook several cases of cows, after having their first 

 calves at four years, continuing to produce yearly thereafter up 

 to fourteen years of age one living calf and sometimes twins, all 

 of them being born on the mountain side. 



Cross-bred or grade Highland cattle are best suited to condi- 

 tions where food is scarce and winters rough. Highland bulls 

 on native western-range cows would furnish hardy stock, but it 

 is not likely that it would meet with a favorable reception from 

 buyers, compared with the present very acceptable Hereford, 



