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Appearance & Origins |
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Shetland Cattle, we now know, have been present in the islands for the past 3000 years and closely resemble the rare Norwegian South and Westland breeds. |
The Shetland is a relatively small breed, (average heights :– cow 48" bull 52"), fine boned and well proportioned with a small head and short incurving horns. |
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The neck is comparably long and thin, but the back is short with wide hindquarters in keeping with the body depth. |
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On average a mature cow weighs 8.5cwt and a grown bull 12cwt, when grass fed supplemented with hay or silage in winter. |
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Historically a wide variety of colours were seen but due to selective breeding for the market place, black & white predominate. |
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Although mostly black and black + white, recently red, red + white, grey + white & dun cattle are starting to reappear. |
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