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How Highland Cows are restoring Culloden Battlefield’s Historic Bog

For those wanting to see Highland Cows and also have a trip to Culloden planned as part of their itinerary ....

The Battle of Culloden was fought in a bog. Since then the landscape has changed dramatically, mainly due to the planting of trees in the 1880s. Tree roots take up water from the soil, drying out the area. Felling didn’t work as the trees regrew. They tried grazing with sheep without success. They have now found the perfect solution - using Highland or Shetland cattle to graze the area. These are similar to the breeds around at the time of the Battle.

They can consume up to 70kg of plant matter a day and eat everything from the fast-growing tree saplings to the prickly gorse. They have 19 Highland cattle which graze different areas.

The cows are ideally suited as with their thick shaggy coats they can remain outside all year round. Their two-clawed hooves splay out as they step in the bog supporting them as they graze.

In fact they have been so successfull in returning the area to its original bog conditions, that some guests have complained about the site being too muddy. ...

More information and pictures here.

Posted by
8059 posts

Oh, Hairy Coos!!! I could look at them all day!

Thanks for the article, wasleys--very interesting! My daughter wants to get some goats to take care of all the weeds and scraggly trees growing here, but maybe I can convince her to get a couple of Highland Cows! There are actually some here in Duluth, strange as that may seem. Of course, our chickens aren't half bad at getting rid of stuff. There was a huge bush that had lots of weeds growing through. I was planning to remove it but the chickens did it for me. Nothing there now. But I'd rather have the Coos.

Posted by
114 posts

Oh! Thank you so much Wasleys for posting this! We will be visiting Culloden again this Spring and will watch for them.

Posted by
1421 posts

Wow, thank you Wasleys for bringing this to my attention. Culloden is truly a sacred place and I think even more special with these amazing cattle. Love the idea of bringing back the bog, as it was during the battle.

Posted by
2003 posts

My favorite part of visiting the Culloden battlefield back in 2019 was the hairy Coos. I absolutely love them.

Posted by
8059 posts

Laurie Beth, I totally missed the Hairy Coos when I was at Culloden. But I did see them in other places, including two cows who were grazing around the grounds of Brodick Castle on Arran. They were so sweet and docile, and since no one else was around, I went up and talked to them (just call me Dr. Dolittle!). 😊