The Breed standard for the Poll Highland Cattle Society Inc.
Breed Standard for poll, horned or miniature
Type: The animal should be of good length, depth and elevation, with neck long enough to give the head a good lift. The head, horns, neck, body, hindquarters and legs should be in perfect balance. On the move the Highlander should show plenty of style, character and quality and look as if it is "going places". Head: It should be proportionate to the body of the animal, and broad between the eyes, while short from the eyes to the point of the muzzle. The hair between the horns, known as the dossan, should be wide, long - reaching to the muzzle - and thick. The eyes should be bright and clear. The Muzzle must be broad with large descending nostrils. A strong under-jaw with teeth meeting upper pad evenly is required, (not over or under shot). The ears should be symmetrical and well formed. No cropping of the ear is allowed. Neck: Should be of good length, allowing for natural lift to the head. A bull should show masculinity but this development should not be excessive at an early age. The throat and neck should be clean-cut without excess skin. The brisket should not be excessive or too fatty. Body & Hindquarters: From the shoulder back, the top of the animal should be straight, with no hollows, and as wide as possible - particularly between the hooks, or hips, and should not be too hard, which indicates bone on which no flesh will develop. It should not narrow over the heart, i.e. behind the shoulders, nor should the shoulders be too prominent. The body should be long and proportionately long from the hook to the tail end of the spine in relation to good length from shoulder to hook. It is important that there should be no sloping of the spine from the hooks back to the tail end of the spine, it should be level and the tail set in smoothly to the body, not creating a knob or lump.On either side of the tail end of the spine, are the plates, and these should be a good follow through from hooks to pins, the latter being well set up and wide. The animal must not be flat sided so the ribs need to be well sprung. The thighs should be well developed and be as full as possible. Finally, when viewed from the rear, the body should not appear to be split up to any great height by the legs, and the hindquarters should appear fairly square, when viewed from the side, the body should appear rectangular. Legs: The legs should be sturdy and straight with good bone and a good covering of hair, and the animal should be seen to be walking freely and easily, the legs not brushing against each other but set well outside the body.The four legs should each be placed at a corner of the body, the front ones straight when seen from the front or side and well apart; as the front, but slightly hooked when seen from the side. If hooked when seen from the side. If hooked too much it becomes a 'sickle' hock, which is most undesirable, as are all structural faults. When viewed from the side of the animal the back of the hock should be in line with the pin bone on the same side.The legs should lead down into well-set and large even hoofs, and when on the move the hind feet should step into the tracks made by the front feet for perfect traction. Hair: Highland cattle have two coats of hair. The outer coat is long and strong and is presumably meant by nature to keep the winter weather away from the skin. The under coat is soft and fluffy to keep their bodies warm. This under coat does not grow long to renew the outer coat, but each coat is separately renewed.
Horns: Horns are accepted in the Standard Highland.
Poll: The top of the head should be obviously a poll, not broad and flat.The official Highland coat colors range from black, brindle, dun, silver dun, red, yellow, white and parti. No color is genetically dominant. Udder: The udder on females should not be fleshy, coming well forward in line with the body and well up behind; with four teats well apart and of even moderate size. Scurs: Scurs are accepted, they must be loose, not fixed, like horns. Sheath & Scrotum: Bulls sheaths should not be loose or pendulous. The scrotum should contain two testicles well let down of good and even size.
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