Highland Cattle Market

· Highland Cattle Market Staff

Can Highland Cattle Live in Texas and Other Hot Climates?

Highlands are built for cold, but many thrive in the South. Here's how to keep Highland cattle healthy and comfortable in the heat.

Red Highland cow with a long coat standing in a grassy pasture

Highlands evolved in cold, wet Scottish weather, so it's fair to ask whether they belong in Texas, Oklahoma or Florida. The short answer: they can do well in warm climates, but only with the right management.

How Highlands handle heat

Highlands shed much of their heavy winter coat in warm weather and grow a lighter summer coat. Animals raised in the South usually carry less coat than those raised up north. Even so, heat is harder on a Highland than cold, so they need help on hot, humid days.

The essentials for hot climates

  • Shade all day. Trees are ideal; a run-in shed or shade cloth works too. Shade is not optional.
  • Plenty of clean, cool water. Cattle drink a lot more in hot weather, so check tanks daily.
  • Airflow. Avoid closed barns in summer; open, breezy shelter is better.
  • A place to cool off. Many owners provide a pond, a mud wallow or a sprinkler.
  • Smart handling. Work, move or load animals early in the morning or in the evening, never in the midday heat.

Signs a Highland is too hot

Watch for heavy panting, open-mouth breathing, drooling, standing rather than grazing, and crowding into the only shade. If you see these signs, give the animal shade and water right away and call your vet if it doesn't improve quickly.

Choosing a Highland for a warm climate

If you live somewhere hot, consider buying animals that were raised in a similar climate. They're already adapted and often carry a lighter coat. Ask the seller where the animal was raised and how it handled last summer.

Grooming and coat care

Helping a Highland shed its winter coat in spring, by brushing out loose hair, can make it more comfortable. Don't shave a Highland; its coat also protects it from sun and insects. See our care and husbandry guide for more on coat care.

Highlands are raised successfully across the South. Browse Highland cattle for sale, where every listing shows the animal's location.

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Every listing shows price, registry, date of birth and location up front.

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Related reading

Buying with confidence

Every listing on Highland Cattle Market follows the same standards before it goes live.

Registry papers checked

We confirm registration and pedigree documentation before any animal goes live on the site.

Health & genetics disclosed

Known health records and genetic considerations, including frame-size testing status, are stated up front.

Independent vet check encouraged

We recommend every buyer arrange their own pre-purchase veterinary check before finalizing a sale.

Signed bill of sale

Every transaction includes a signed bill of sale documenting the animal, price, and terms.

Documentation you should expect

Depending on the animal and where it's going, a Highland cattle sale typically involves some combination of the following. Ask your seller which ones apply to your purchase.

  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), also called a health certificate, issued by an accredited veterinarian for animals crossing state lines.
  • Registry transfer paperwork for the animal's registry (AHCA, HHCA, or Highland Cattle Society), where applicable.
  • A signed bill of sale documenting the animal, agreed price, and terms.
  • State brand inspection certificate, where the animal's home state requires one before sale or transport.
  • For international imports only: an import permit and entry health certificate. Most domestic sales do not require this.