The Shetland is a small, hardy Scottish breed of cattle from the Shetland Islands to the north of mainland Scotland. The cattle are normally black and white in colour but there are smaller numbers …

Nov 7, 2025 · The Shetland cattle are a multi-purpose breed of cattle from the Shetland Isles. They are suitable for milk and meat production and also good for draft. The breed is noted mainly for their use …

Sep 29, 2022 · They excel in traditional roles such as smallholding and extensive grass-fed commercial beef systems, and they are eminently suitable for use in conservation grazing, a strong growth area …

The purpose of this charitable society is to preserve and conserve this special cattle breed and to secure its future in both Shetland's crofting culture and the wider world.

Shetland cattle, Scandinavian in origin, are an angular dairy breed with legendary longevity and resistance to diseases.

Shetland cattle developed in the harsh environment of their native islands and they were originally bred to be triple purpose to fulfill all of the crofter’s needs, although milk production was their primary role.

Hardy Shetland cattle possibly date back to Viking times, though the breed has been subsequently outcrossed with other cattle breeds. Notably small but resilient, Shetland cattle forage well on even …

Are Shetland cattle one of the best kept secrets in farming? We think they could be. Small, docile, fast growing, easy calving and hardy are just a few of the breed’s characteristics which, for smallholders …

Jan 24, 2024 · Shetland cattle, originating from the Shetland Isles, are a small, hardy breed known for their ability to survive in challenging environments. They are one of the smallest British cattle breeds, …

Jun 24, 2025 · Shetland cattle date back about 5000 years and hail from the Shetland Islands north of Scotland. They faced extinction in the 1980s but their numbers have rebounded, although the breed …