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Scottish Highland calves are one of the cutest things in the world, and I understand why so many people fall in love with them the first time they see one. I've raised Highland cattle since 2014, and this page covers what I think people should know about the calves, from how they're born and raised to what to think about before you buy one.
Highland Calves for Sale
We raise registered AHCA Scottish Highland calves on our farm in Bakersville, North Carolina, near the Tennessee line, and we sell to approved homes. Our calves stay with their mothers until they're weaned, so we only sell weaned calves, never bottle babies. What we have available changes with the season and each year's calf crop. To ask about a calf, fill out the form on my Looking for Highland Cattle page and tell me about your farm and what you're looking for. You can also see Highland calves for sale on HoofnHorn from breeders across the country.
Highland Calves Belong With Their Mamas
Scottish Highland cattle have been bred for hundreds of years for their mothering traits, and their maternal instinct is one of the things I appreciate most about the breed. If a calf has a healthy mom willing to raise it, that's exactly where it belongs. There are legitimate times a calf needs to be bottle raised, like when its mother dies, rejects it or can't provide enough milk, but unnecessarily separating a healthy calf from its mother is cruel, especially when it's done to create a tourist attraction or get views. That's why I don't sell calves until they've been weaned and are ready to leave their mothers. You can read more in Bottle Fed Highland Cows: What You Should Know.
What Newborn Highland Calves Are Like
Highland cows are known for calving on their own, and their calves are born small and come up fast. Calves out of the bulls we use usually weigh somewhere around 60 to 70 pounds at birth, and good ones grow quickly on their mother's milk and pasture. The first hours of a calf's life matter more than anything, and a calf that gets up and nurses its mother's colostrum has a much better start than one that doesn't. Highland calves are born with that fluffy coat already, which is why a newborn looks like a stuffed animal standing in the grass.
That fluffy calf is going to grow up into a full grown cow, though. Most of the "mini" photos you see online are just newborn or very young Highland calves, so before you buy one because it's tiny, read Mini Highland Cows: What Buyers Should Know.
Not Every Bull Calf Should Be a Bull
The Highland market is flooded with bulls right now, and what the breed needs is more good females, more steers and a lot fewer bulls. Bottle raised bulls are a special concern because they lose their natural respect for people, and what seems harmless in a 100 pound calf can become dangerous, even deadly, in a grown bull. Unless a bull calf is something truly special, he'll make a much better steer. My rule is simple: if there's ever a question, castrate. I share more of my thoughts on this in My Unpopular Highland Cattle Opinions.
Calves Born on Our Farm
Every calf crop has its own stories. HHH Gold Kanyon was a surprise calf we never meant to breed, and he grew up to be the 2022 AHCA Roll of Excellence Bull of the Year. You can read about him in The Bull I Never Meant to Breed, and meet one of our sweetest calves in Joy Begat Peace.
Can I See the Calves?
Yes. On a guided farm visit we take you out to wherever the herd is grazing that day, and depending on the season you may get to see cows with their calves. Guests on tours need to be 10 or older because of the terrain and the cows with calves. These cattle are large, and a protective mama makes the situation less predictable, so it's not a risk I'm willing to take with small children.
We also use calves for Highland cow photoshoots and Christmas photos. Those are different because we have multiple people on hand and we're only working with a handful of calves we've selected ahead of time. Those calves are not bottle babies. They're borrowed from the pasture for a short time and go right back to their mothers after the session, and their health, safety and welfare always come first.
Thinking About Buying a Highland Calf?
A calf is a big decision, so here are a few things I'd want you to know first. Highlands are herd animals and should not live alone, so plan on at least two. Teach calves to respect your space from day one, even when it's tempting to let a sweet little calf push on you. And please don't start with a bull calf. A bull calf and a heifer calf aren't a breeding program, and if they're raised together, the heifer can get bred before she's physically mature enough to safely carry a calf.
If you want to know what calves and cattle actually cost, read How Much Do Highland Cattle Cost? When you're ready to look, you can find Highland calves and cattle for sale on HoofnHorn, where you can read about their breeding and ask the seller questions before you bid.