Cool Creek Farm Has Scottish Highland Cattle
Edwards was young at the time, and long-haired Scottish Highlands weren’t a typical farm animal in the Southern U.S.
“I had seen them on TV, and I thought they were absolutely beautiful and majestic animals,” Edwards says. “As a kid, I had three little toys that were Scottish Highlands – a bull, cow and calf – and they were my favorites. I always thought it would be so cool to have real ones.”
Long Hair, Don’t Care
Ignoring the nay-sayers, Edwards asked his dad, Chuck, to help him buy the animals in 2013.
“My dad asked me why in the heck I would want to raise long-haired cows in Mississippi heat,” Edwards recalls with a laugh. “A lot of people told me it was too hot in Mississippi to have Highlands since they have so much hair.”
Fortunately, his dad agreed to give Highlands a try. The father and son team purchased three unregistered Scottish Highland cows from a farmer in Tupelo, which quickly grew to 20.
In typical dad fashion, Chuck was soon won over by his new furry friends.
“Dad now adores them as much as I do,” Edwards says. “We’ve met so many wonderful people through the cows. They’ve been one of the greatest blessings in my life.”
In Scotland, the weather can be brutal, so the Highlands’ long, thick hair protects them from the elements. But they’re a hardy, adaptable breed.
See more: Town Creek Farm’s Cattle Fit Mississippi
Home is Where the Highland Cattle Are
“As long as they have shade and water, they do totally fine here,” Edwards says. “I’ve never lost one or had an issue due to heat.”
Cool Creek Farm in Fannin has been in the Edwards family for 106 years, and Davis is the fifth generation to raise cattle on the farm. Today, the farm’s focus is to preserve heritage breeds of livestock and educate people about them. On Sept. 24, 2022, Cool Creek Farm will host its second annual Mississippi Highland Cattle Gathering, an event where Highland cattle breeders and enthusiasts can gather to make new friends, learn about the breed and listen to guest speakers.
Edwards also travels to Celtic festivals around Mississippi with his Highland cow named Marilyn to educate people about the breed.
“It’s so much fun to sit and talk with people about my cows – I can’t tell you how much I love it,” he says. “I bought Marilyn in 2014, and she’s my star cow. She’s just the best ambassador for the breed and wonderful to look at. Since Marilyn is one of my original Highlands, she is the queen. She bosses all the other cows around – even our beef cattle.”
Gentle Giants
Scottish Highland cows are smart and docile, so they are easy to handle and tend to be popular among new cattle owners.
“They are so intelligent,” Edwards says. “I can halter break a Highland calf in two days, where a regular beef calf or cow can take weeks.”
See more: Claiborne County Beef Cattle Farmer Advocates for Agriculture
Once a rarity in the U.S., Highlands have grown in popularity over the last few decades.
“They were once an endangered species, but through breeding and promotion of the breed, they are now thriving and trending,” Edwards says. “More people are buying them in the South because they are realizing you can actually have them here. Their value has skyrocketed too.”
Once weaned, a registered Highland heifer calf sells for about $4,000, depending on color and bloodlines. Over the last couple of years, Edwards has sold down his fold from 20 to nine Highland cows so he could purchase specific genetics. He has traveled to Wisconsin, Iowa and Vermont to buy desirable bloodlines.
“I’ve researched a lot about their genetics and bloodlines, and I bought semen imported from Scotland and Canada to implement those genetics in my breeding program,” he says. “I basically started over with a solid foundation with registration paperwork so I can go back and look at the lineages. One of my heifers was the first artificially inseminated Highland calf in the state. Her sire was imported from the United Kingdom, so her offspring will be worth more than your average cow because of her genetics.”
See more: Farm Facts: Beef
An Ancient Highland Cattle Breed
Scottish Highlands are the oldest registered breed of cattle in the world. The first recorded importation of Scottish Highlands into the U.S. was in the late 1890s. Though classified as a beef animal, Highlands are also great milkers, making them a dual-purpose animal.
“The reason Highlands are so docile and friendly is because they’ve lived side-by-side with humans for generations,” Edwards says. “Back in the old days in Scotland, if you were fortunate enough to have a Highland cow, it would sleep inside your house with your family because people wanted to protect them from being stolen. I think that contributes to their intelligence.”
Highland beef is very lean with about one-third the fat of normal beef, making it popular among chefs. Though highly valued for their meat, Edwards hasn’t sold one for beef for several years because many Americans want them for pets.
Edwards hopes to set up an agritourism destination at Cool Creek Farm in the future to allow more people to learn about his animals, which also include Katahdin sheep, beef cows, chickens and a llama named Quincy.
“I had a camel for a while, and I’ve had just about any kind of animal, but Highlands are 150% of my heart,” Edwards says. “I’d love to go to Scotland and see them there one day. I have visited with several Scottish people at festivals, and they always tell me how beautiful my Highlands are and how healthy and happy they look. I take that as a compliment. I hope to be someone who makes a positive impact on the breed.”
See more: How Mississippi Farmers Care for Cattle
Just got back from Scotland where we visited with several Highland coos! They are beautiful animals.
I have had the privilege and honor to meet, and talk with Mr. Davis Edwards and Ms. Marilyn. We, my partner Josie and I, saw him at a Celtic Festival in Gulfport, Mississippi in 2016. He calls us his adoptive grandmothers. He is a wonderful man. We wish him all the best that the world has to offer. We love you Davis!!!
It’s really a highlight at CelticFest Mississippi on the Rez and Highlands & Islands Celtic Festival in Gulfport to see the Cool Creek Highland Coos!
Do you sell steers
We raise Highlander cattle here in northwest Wisconsin. They are a wonderful breed, gentle creatures.
You MUST get to Scotland and get to the Highlands. Heaven on earth!
I’d love to have a pair for my south Mississippi farm! The Blue Dragonfly Farm, Salem, MS
Well, I’ve never heard of Salem MS, and I’m from MS
I am inquiring if you have any Highland Heifers for sale
I got my first red girl from Davis several years back. We fail in love with her. We still have her. She just delivered a lil bull 7 weeks ago. I love my highlands. Part of my happy time is spent in pasture with them. South Mississippi
We live in Brandon ms and I would love to purchase and raise some of my own. I’m curious to find out more info on where to start. We raised horses growing up but I want to have cows too and I just love the look or highlands ♥️