This is a list of domestic animal breeds originating in Scotland. To be considered domesticated, a population of animals must have their behaviour, life cycle, or physiology systemically altered as a result of being under human control for many generations.
Scotland has produced some of the longest-established domestic animal breeds. There are thirty-seven extant animal breeds from Scotland, and three that are extinct. The Soay Sheep has prehistoric origins, and the Galloway breed of beef cattle dates back several hundred years. New breeds have also been developed more recently in Scotland, such as the Scottish Fold cat, which dates from 1961.
The North Ronaldsay Sheep is a most unusual breed, subsisting largely on a diet of seaweed. The Boreray was in 2012 the only sheep breed listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as 'critical', its highest level of concern at that time; in 2022 it was listed as 'at risk', the lower of the two levels of concern of the Trust. Some breeds, such as the Shetland Pony and the Border Collie are well known throughout much of the Western world, whilst others such as the Scots Dumpy chicken are little-known, even at home. Fifteen breeds of dog have Scottish origins, including six terrier breeds. Indeed, the relative isolation of many Scottish islands has led to a preponderance of breeds from these places being represented. Various breeds are now extinct, including the Grice, an archaic and somewhat aggressive pig.
Breeds
Cats Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Scottish Fold Coupar Angus, 1961rare
Cattle Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Aberdeen AngusAberdeenshire, Angus, 18th centurynot at risk"Angus" Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 21 July 2009.AyrshireAyrshire, before 1800not at risk"The Breed" Ayrshire Cattle Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009."Why Ayrshires" US Ayrshire Breeders' Association. Retrieved 20 July 2009.Belted GallowayGalloway, 17–18th centuryrare"Belted Galloway" Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 20 July 2009.GallowayGalloway, 700–1100not at risk"Galloway History" Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2009.HighlandWest Highlands, before 1800not at risk"The Highland Breed" Highland Cattle Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009.LuingLuing, after 1947 not at risk"History of the Breed" Luing Cattle Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009.ShetlandShetland, 700–1100at risk"Home" Shetland Cattle Breeders Association. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
Chickens Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Scots Dumpy Highlands, 11th centurypriority; rare"Scots Dumpy chickens at Kintaline Farm" scotsdumpy.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Scots Grey Lanarkshire, 16th centurypriority; rare" Scots Grey Hens at Kintaline Farm" scotsgrey.co.uk Retrieved 20 July 2009.
Dogs Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Bearded Collie Highlands, 16th centuryvulnerable native breed Border Collie Scottish Borders, late 19th centurynot at risk"Collie breed history barkbytes.com. Retrieved 21 July 2009. Border Terrier Scottish Borders, 1700snot at risk"History of the Border Terrier" Oberlin University. Retrieved 21 July 2009. Cairn Terrier Scottish highlands, 16th–19th centurynot at riskInitial grouping of several of the highland terriers (including the Scottie) under the generic name Skye terriers has caused some confusion in the breed’s lineage. There is much disagreement over whether the Skye terriers mentioned in early 16th century records actually descended from forerunners of the Scottie or vice versa. See Choosing a Scottish Terrier" Petplace.com. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Dandie Dinmont Skye and Scottish Borders, mid-18th century or earlier vulnerable native breed Golden Retriever Glen Affric, 1865not at risk"Golden Retrievers: History" K9web.com. Retrieved 30 November 2007. Gordon Setter Moray, 1700svulnerable native breed"About Gordon Setters" Gordon Setter Cub of America. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Rough Collie Scottish Highlands, 19th centurynot at risk"History of the Rough Collie" collienet.com. Retrieved 21 July 2009. Smooth Collie Scotland, 19th centuryvulnerable native breed Scottish Terrier Aberdeen, 15th–16th centuryat risk"Scottish Terrier" Britanica. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Scottish Deerhound Probably the Highlands, possibly in the Middle Ages vulnerable native breed Shetland Sheepdogor Sheltie 1900snot at risk"Endemic Vertebrates of Shetland" nature-shetland.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2009. This source suggests that this is "a debatable breed, the Kennel Club variety probably differing significantly from the dogs that were used in Shetland in the past". Skye Terrier Skye, before 1588vulnerable native breedThrelfall, Sine "Breed History" Skye Terrier Club Retrieved 20 July 2009.Savill, Richard (5 July 2006) "Skye Seven raise hope for breed's survival" The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 July 2009. West Highland White Terrieror Westie Skye & Argyll, 16th centurynot at risk
Geese Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Shetland Shetland, unknownUK and US - priority; critical
Horses Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Clydesdale Clydesdale, 1750sat risk"Breed History" Clydesdale Horse Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Eriskay Pony Hebridescritical"Watchlist: Eriskay" Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Highland Pony Highlands and Islands, 16th centuryat risk"History of Highland Ponies" Strathspey Highland Ponies/freespace.virgin.net. Retrieved 20 July 2009."Highland Pony" mahalo.com. Retrieved 20 July 2009.Both sources state that fossil remains of the ancestors of the modern breed have been found dating from "60,000 BC" prior to the last Ice Age. Shetland Pony Shetland, B.C.not at risk"Breed History" Shetland Pony Studbook Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009."Shetland Pony" Equine World. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
Sheep Breed Image Place and date of origin Status Boreray St Kilda, Scotland, 1930scritical"Watchlist: Boreray" Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved 20 July 2009. This categorisation indicates that fewer than 300 individuals are known to exist. Castlemilk Moorit Dumfriesshire, from more ancient Scottish and other breeds including Soay and Shetland, 1900scritical Cheviot Scottish Borders, 14th century or earliernot at risk Hebridean Cumbria, probably from sheep from the Hebrides, 19th centuryrare"History of the Breed" . Hebridean Sheep Society. Retrieved 20 July 2009. The breed is sometimes referred to as "St. Kilda Sheep", although it has no specific connection with the archipelago. North Country Cheviot Cheviot Hills, Caithness, Sutherland, 18th centuryUK and North America North Ronaldsay North Ronaldsay, Iron Agerare Scottish Blackface Scottish Borders, about 1500not at risk"Scottish Blackface" sheep101.info/breedsS. Retrieved 20 July 2009. Shetland Shetland, Iron AgeUK and North America Soay Soay, St Kilda, Neolithic or Bronze Agerare"A Thumbnail History Of The Soay Sheep Of St. Kilda" Southern Oregon Soay Sheep Farms. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
Extinct breeds
Prior to their demise, the Paisley Terrier contributed to the bloodline of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Scottish Tan Face to the Boreray sheep. Although Galloway Ponies were praised by Gervaise Markham in the 17th century for their "fine shape, easie pace, pure metall and infinit toughness", true to form Samuel Johnson described them as "common hackneys"."Galloways and Fell Galloways" The Fell Pony Museum. Retrieved 21 July 2009. It shares its origins with the still extant Fell Pony. A model of the Grice, whose habit of attacking lambs cannot have aided its survival, was recreated by a taxidermist in 2006.
Breed Species Date of Origin Location of Origin Date of extinction Paisley Terrier or Clydesdale TerrierDog19th centuryPaisley, Clyde Valley20th centuryBailey, Susan (24 January 2008) "The Evolution Of The Yorkshire Terrier" articlealley.com. Retrieved 21 July 2009. This source suggest the Paisley and Clydesdale were two distinct breeds at one time. Galloway PonyHorse16th century or earlierGallowaypost 1901 GricePigUnknownHighlands and Islands (also Ireland)c. 1930 Scottish Dunface or Old Scottish ShortwoolSheepIron AgeHighlands and Islands (previously British Isles)late 19th centuryCulley, George (1807) Observations on Livestock London. Wilkie, Robinson et al. pp 146, 160–161. Retrieved 7 July 2010. (Survives as Shetland, Boreray, North Ronaldsay, Hebridean.)
See also Fauna of Scotland Shetland animal breeds Scottish inventions and discoveries
References