Known as Highland Cows to the sane non-Celtic parts of the world, the coos are having all kinds of fun in the next few books. So I thought we’d do an introduction for anyone who isn’t familiar with them.
The famous Highland Coos of the Red Celt realm make an appearance in the next three books. Beginning in book four Seeing Red, continuing in Code Yellow, and even into book six (working title Market Forces in Gretna Green), Niki discovers that the Red Celt dragons are only one of the Red Celts problems.
This is a Highland Cow. Or a Hielen Coo or even a Hairy Coo if you’re Scottish. Their natural habitat is anywhere cold, wet and often mountainous.
They’re documented as early as the 6th century in the Highlands and the outer Hebrides of northern Scotland. (Although some archaeological evidence places their bones as far back as 1200 B.C.)
They’re a hardy breed whose unusual double coat helps to protect them from cold, rain and snow. With their waterproof, oily outer long hair and a downy undercoat. They thrive in conditions such as the Scottish Highlands, with its snow, high annual rainfall and strong winds.
These days they’ve been exported all over northern Europe and even to Canada, America, South America, Australia and New Zealand.
You can read more about them on Wikipedia if you’re interested.
Just Adorable
Some calves bringing a little gratuitous cuteness to brighten your month.
The calves are completely adorable. They’re born with horn buds which often give them crazy hairstyles during their first few months. The horns reach their adult size when the cattle are about three years old.
Interestingly the female cows also have full-size horns too, although theirs are a slightly different shape.
Seeing Red and the coos
Snippet from Seeing Red.
“Pant y Wern, the capital, was ridiculously crowded when we arrived, and the Highland Coos really weren’t helping anything or anyone.
Why weren’t they down by the river as usual?
I liked the Highland cows that all the Red Celts called Coos. They were big and silly and fluffy with wonderful curving horns. But the small, tame herd, or fold as a group of Highland cows, was correctly called, who lived on the river banks when I was a child, seemed to be all over the town right now.
I’d ask someone about them.”
Colours
The Highland cows come in a variety of colours. About 60% of them are the more common reddish-brown. But shades from white, through silver and yellow and even black can be seen.
Beef
Their meat is becoming more popular outside of Scotland because it’s much lower in both fat and cholesterol not just lower than other forms of beef but lower even than chicken! It’s also incredibly tasty.
They’re enormous. Considering that the males can weigh up to 800kg or about 1750 pounds that’s a lot of steak dinners. The females produce high-fat buttermilk.
Both sexes are generally referred to as ‘cows’ though.
Good enough for royalty
Our late Queen Elizabeth II started a fold of Highland Cattle at Balmoral Castle in 1954 the year after her coronation.
Balmoral was often stated to be one of her favourite places in the world. The castle, built by Queen Victoria, is a privately held residence belonging to the monarch.
It seems only right that the Highland castle should have Highland coos–doesn’t it?
Graphics
I had a lot of fun creating the graphics of the Coos in Midjourney the graphic AI.
Really interesting to read about them
Thanks Wendy – they’re more present now in Red than when you beta read 🙂
Moo! Loved reading all of it!
Thank you Betsy 😀
As we say in American courts, let the record reflect that I clicked through to the blog to read about the Highland Coos! Wonderful escapism, thank you. We are roasting in Texas today, and thinking about shaggy cows on chilly hillsides is helping me feel cooler.
Oh that made me laugh Jessie. As a devoted LA Law and Ally McBeal fan (and many other USA legal shows) … Let the record reflect I appreciate the giggle you gave me. I’d wish you cooler weather but while we might get it next week, I guess you guys are stuck with it for some time?
Loved reading about the Coos, met a few in the Great Glen in the mid 2000’s my Standard Poodle was obsessed with saying hi to them 😁
Oh wow – I’d love a photo of that! But then my little Bichon has to greet all the local horses 😀 The Great Glen has some fine iron statues of the coos too around Loch Ness. I’ll find some of my photos and put them in a future post.
I’d love to have a pasture full of Highland Coos but I don’t think they would like the heat here in Australia. Today, 16 June, 2023 our winter 😂 temp was 30 degrees Celsius. However they are very cute❤️
Oh wow Beth, I’m sending you cooling thoughts 😮
And apparently there are quite a few folds and a several HC breeding clubs in Australia – maybe in the cooler parts?
Such cute coos!
Aren’t they?
We have a friend here in Connecticut who has two coos on her little farm. They are very old now, so the owner calls them her adorable lawn ornaments.
Oh I love it ‘lawn ornaments’ – makes a note for one of the books!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures and information about you Coos! They are beautiful and the babes are so cute!
Thanks Janet – so happy you enjoyed them 😀
Such a cool critter. I too moseyed on over here to read about the coos. I thought the adults were cute, but those babies. Oh my gosh!!
I know! And the cute hairstyles the horn buds give them are adorable.