The Shetland cows are a multipurpose breed of cows in the Shetland Isles. They are acceptable for meat and milk production and good for the draft.
From crofting in Shetland, the strain is noted chiefly. Even the Shetland Isles is situated off the northwestern coast of Scotland.
Organizations consider ancient cows to breed the strain. Since the Shetland cows back to the Viking Era. It’s thought that the breed initially arrived between 700 and 1100 AD and have since experienced many different influences (like cross-breeding with different cattle breeds).
Shetland Cattle Characteristics
The Shetland cows are now serving as a meat cows breed in a speciality, market markets. Small scale farms that rely upon a top income in the sale maintain these cows. The strain is kept for upkeep prices for feed.
The Shetland cows are still kept by folks in Shetland. Even though their numbers are tiny. There are 180 calves on typical every year, born, also 800 registered Shetland cows.
The Shetland cows are extremely lovely little to medium-sized creatures with white stains upon the black jacket. They have similarities.
Both cows and bulls have horns, and their horns are rounded upward. The Shetland cows possess a very long coat, which protects them.

Bodyweight of the bulls ranges from 550 to 600 kg. Along with the cows are generally more compact compared to bulls. And bodyweight of the cows ranges from 350 to 450 kg.
Shetland Cattle Advantages
Shetland cows are multipurpose animals. They’re used for milk, milk, and draft. From crofting in Shetland, They’re also noted.
The Shetland cows are somewhat bigger in size, but quite hardy than most other cattle breeds.
They’re well adapted to the native environment’s climate. They are normally quite powerful, other health issues and ailments are less.
They’ve grown in size within the moment, also with the debut of different strains. The Shetland cows are acceptable for smaller farms and good for extensive business meat cattle that are grass-fed production methods.
They have a growth rate and have simple calving benefits. The strain is also acceptable for conservation grazing.
Conservation
The Shetland cows were an essential species of creatures in Scotland due to their hardiness. And there they have been noted for their usage in crofting and used for supplying meat and milk and utilized as a draft animal for plows.
Nevertheless, a population decline was undergone by them. There was an estimated population of 15000 cows.
Then breed was shown to be much more popular than the crofters, along with Shetland cattle’s prevalence diminished.
Presently there are efforts likely to revive the Shetland cattle breed from the UK, regardless of the rapid decrease in crofting to get a dwelling.
The Shetland Cattle Breeder’s Association primarily does these efforts. Like other cows strains coming from Shetland, the Shetland cows are somewhat smaller than many.
The Shetland cows are a breed of cows now and it’s categorized by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK.
Shetland Cattle Breed Information
Breed Name | Shetland | |
Other Name | None | |
Breed Purpose | Milk, Meat, Draft | |
Special Notes | Hardy, strong, pretty fast growers, well adapted to the native climatic conditions, excellent grazing abilities | |
Breed Size | Small-Medium | |
Weight Bulls | Vary from 550-600 kg | |
Cows | Vary from 350-450 kg | |
Climate Tolerance | All Climates | |
Coat Color | White spots upon black coat | |
Horned | Yes | |
Milk Yield | Moderate | |
Rarity | Rare | |
Country/Place of Origin | Scotland |