Miniature Highlands - What’s the Fuss?

We get messages all the time asking if we sell Miniature Highlands. The answer is… a firm no, and we recommend you don’t buy a Highland from anyone who does.

While our Highlands are quite small, we do not breed our cattle to be miniature. At Koolah Creek, we do not keep, breed, or condone Miniature Highlands for ethical and welfare reasons. The "miniature" craze is a serious welfare issue that we feel very strongly about.

Why the Miniature Trend Is a Problem
Scottish Highlands are a rare heritage breed, with one of the oldest running herdbooks (recording Scottish pedigrees since 1884). We are breeders registered with the Australian Highland Cattle Society, and our breeding program is dedicated to preserving and improving traditional Highland cattle.

Miniature Highlands are almost never healthy or ethically bred, and unfortunately are essentially a scam. Most so-called 'minis' that we've seen are actually no smaller than our standard, true to type, heritage Highlands (which are a smaller breed of cattle). Those that are actually smaller, are simply unhealthy, underfed runts that unfortunately have little chance of the long healthy life that a well bred Highland should have.

The fastest and cheapest way to make a 'Miniature Highland'… is to simply underfeed calves - often by weaning them from their mothers too early. This purposeful underfeeding stunts their growth for life. New owners are often given incorrect feeding advice, leading them to believe they're caring for the animal correctly when it's actually being kept at the edge of starvation. An underfed calf is not a "miniature Highland"; it is an animal that has been cruelly neglected and abused.

What About Genuinely Small Highlands?
We have seen plenty of “miniatures” with extremely poor conformation - the kind of faults that will cause long-term soundness issues, such as early arthritis and a lifetime of pain. Many of these animals have no chance of living the long, healthy life that a well-bred Highland should, and absolutely should not be bred from. We have never seen a structurally correct, truly healthy "miniature Highland," only runts that should not be reproducing.

When breeding animals responsibly, it's crucial to select for many important traits besides size, such as sound structure, good feet and udder, fertility, and a calm temperament. The pursuit of "miniatures" by selecting only the smallest cattle to breed frequently comes at the expense of these other vital traits. With "Miniature Highlands," this seems to be the case almost all the time, resulting in stunted, unhealthy runts.

Dwarfism (Chondrodysplasia) Is Not the Only Problem
A common tactic in breeding miniature cattle, especially overseas, is to introduce a dwarfism gene (chondrodysplasia), which causes a range of serious health problems due to defective bone growth. The most severe form, known as "bulldog dwarfism," is lethal; calves that inherit the gene from both parents are often aborted or stillborn with deformities such as a large head, extremely short limbs, and an abdominal hernia. While this is less common in Australia, it is a stark example of the cruel and unethical practices used to create "mini" cattle. The pursuit of extreme small size, through any means, risks compromising an animal's health and well-being. Even without this specific genetic defect, "mini" Highlands still suffer from the poor conformation and other health issues that are the direct result of unethical breeding practices.

Highlands Are Already a Smaller Breed
Highlands are already much smaller than modern beef and dairy cattle breeds. See the picture below, of a mature, ‘standard’, Fully Imported Bloodline Highland cow beside an Angus x Jersey cow. I have never needed to squat down to pregnancy test an Angus, Hereford or Friesian cow like I do with our Highlands! Like any breed in any species, there is a range of sizes. To give you an idea of our Highland’s size, we did a quick measurement of our cows. They ranged from 114 cm to 126 cm at the hip. For reference, at the top of this post, Brianne is an average-sized cow in our fold, and we are average height people beside her.

According to some standards, a cow between 106 cm and 120 cm is classed as a "mid-size miniature." By that standard, most of our girls could be called "mid-size miniature," even though they are within the typical size range for standard, heritage Highlands.

Is it ethical to market a cow that's within the normal size range for a standard, heritage-bred Highland as a "Mini Highland", just to jump on the miniature cow craze?

We don't think so. The "miniature" label is often just a marketing tool used to sell regular Highlands at a premium to those unfamiliar with the breed's naturally smaller size.

Left: a mature ‘standard’ Highland cow (Fully Imported Bloodlines).

Right: an Angus x Jersey cow

Why Real ‘Standard’ Highlands Might Be Ideal For You
Small cattle breeds certainly have their place. They're ideal for hobby farms and smaller acreages, as they consume less feed and cause less soil compaction than large commercial breeds. There's a big demand for smaller breeds like Dexters, mini Galloways, or Highlands for use as pets, paddock ornaments, or organic lawnmowers.

The size of a standard, well-bred Highland meets the needs of many people looking for "minis."

It's also worth remembering that all cattle, whether "small" or "mini," are large, strong animals that will weigh close hundreds of kilograms at the very least. They still need to be treated with appropriate care and respect.

Be Aware of Scams
If you are looking for Highlands of any size, be very, very cautious.There are many scams, and we know of people who have lost significant deposits for animals that never existed. We recommend only buying from registered breeders. A legitimate seller will want you to meet them and their animals. Never send any payment unless you've seen the animals in person or had a video call where you've seen the animals and the seller's face. You should also ask for the seller's identification and the PIC code of their property and verify that everything matches up. We are happy to help you determine if a seller is legitimate. Click here for more information on protecting yourself from scams.

The Australian Highland Cattle Society website is a great way to find registered breeders in your area.

This is a much longer answer than most people who message us are looking for, but we hope it sheds some light on why we feel so strongly about miniatures. Feel free to get in touch with any questions!

Published 28/11/2022

Updated 14/9/2025