Antique Scottish Highland Cow Horn Beaker

Published by Nevan O Shaughnessy on August 11, 2017August 11, 2017

Antique Scottish Highland Cow Horn Beaker.

PRESENTING a Lovely Antique Scottish Highland Cow Horn Beaker..

This is a Highland Cow’s Horn…..hollowed out to create a beaker or drinking vessel.

These were commonly used in the Scottish Highlands in place of ceramic or earthenware drinking vessels……especially at feasts, and would be normally used for drinking honey mead.

Some of the more elaborate examples have sterling silver mounts.

This is a more humble example.

Circa 1880.

Highly Collectible……perfect condition !

Highland cattle (Scottish Gaelic: Bò Ghàidhealach; Scots: Heilan coo) are a Scottish cattle breed. They have long horns and long wavy coats that are coloured black, brindle, red, yellow, white, silver (looks white but with a black nose) or dun, and they are raised primarily for their meat.^[1] They originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland and were first mentioned in the 6th century AD. The first herd book described two distinct types of Highland cattle but, due to crossbreeding between the two, only one type now exists and is registered. They have since been exported worldwide.

They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Highlands of Scotland. This results in long hair, giving the breed its ability to overwinter. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and cows up to 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). Their milk generally has a very high butterfat content, and their meat, regarded as of the highest quality, is gaining mainstream acceptance as it is lower in cholesterol than other varieties of beef.

They have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair—the longest of any cattle breed—covering a downy undercoat.^[2] This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds.^[3] Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants.^[4]

Mature bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and cows can weigh up to 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). Cows typically have a height of 90–106 centimeters (3–3.5 ft), and bulls are typically in the range of 106–120 centimeters (3.5–4 ft).^[5] Mating occurs throughout the year with a gestation period of approximately 277–290 days. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. Sexual maturity is reached at about eighteen months. Highland cattle also have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years.^[6]

The hair color of Highland cattle can vary from black, brindled, red, yellow and dun.^[7] The coat colors are caused by alleles at the MC1R gene (E locus) and the PMEL or SILV gene (D locus).^[8]

They have a docile temperament and the milk has a high butterfat content, so have traditionally been used as house cows. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young.^[7]

Cold tolerance

All European cattle cope relatively well with low temperatures but Highland cattle have been described as “…almost as cold-tolerant as the arctic-dwelling caribou and reindeer…”^[9] Conversely due to their thick coats they are much less tolerant of heat than zebu cattle, which originated in South Asia and are adapted for hot climates.^[10] Highland cattle have been successfully established in countries where winters are substantially colder than Scotland such as Norway and Canada.