Miniature Highlands are the fluffy little guys you see all over Youtube, Facebook and Instagram. 

Mini Highlands come in some beautiful colors. You’ll still find the classic black, red, and dun that trace back to their Scottish roots, but now there are seven recognized colors, black, dun, silver dun, red, yellow, white and the eye catching brindle.  These cattle are known for their big, fluffy dossan (bangs) that often cover their eyes as they mature, along with their impressive horns and thick, woolly coats.

While Highlands are naturally a smaller-framed breed, they aren’t true miniatures. Miniature Highlands have typically been crossed with Dexter cattle to reduce their size.

In our experience, they’ve got curious and affectionate personalities. When handled from a young age, they can make great additions to any farm or family.

Dexter miniature cattle, hailing from Southern Ireland, are a smaller breed of cattle known for their black, red, or dun coats.

They can either have horns or be naturally polled, meaning no horns. Originally brought to the United States as dual-purpose cattle, they excelled in both beef and milk production. In recent times, they have been crossbred with various breeds to create smaller versions that cater to the miniature cattle market.

It’s worth noting that Dexter cattle can carry the Chondrodysplasia gene, which causes dwarfism in cattle and can result in what has been coined as “micro cattle.”  While Dexters are generally easy to handle, they can also possess independent personalities.

Originating in Scotland Belted Galloways are recognizable by their distinctive white “belt” encircling their black or red or dun bodies. That white belt has earned them the nickname “cookie or oreo” cow.

This breed’s double coat offers protection against cold weather, making them well-suited to colder climates.

Belted Galloways are another small framed cattle that typically fall in the midsize cattle range.

Crossbreeding with miniature breeds can bring their size down into the miniature range. Their lack of horns and docile temperament make them a favorite among mini cow enthusiasts.

Highpark mini cattle emerged as a more recent innovation in the miniature cattle industry. Unlike a distinct breed, they are the result of breeding two different cattle breeds to produce a specific color pattern.

By crossing a Highland and a White Park, we have achieved a remarkable outcome – cattle with thick, wooly coats and the color pattern of a White Park, featuring colored points or tips. These points can be observed on their ears, nose, eyes, and the bottom of their legs.

Alternatively, Highpark cattle can also be a cross between a Highland and a British White Park.

The notable distinction in this case is that the offspring will be polled, meaning they will not have horns.