The Shetland Cattle Breeders Association

Thank you for visiting the website of the Shetland Cattle Breeders' Association (SCBA). Whether you are trying to decide if Shetlands are the breed for you, or just wishing to learn more about our cattle, we hope that you find what you need. If you don't, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Shetland Cow

It is a sad fact that many people are not even aware that there is such an animal as the Shetland cow. This is because, like many traditional breeds, it has suffered greatly from the switch to intensive livestock farming – so much so that it is currently classified as at risk by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. This is regrettable, as these charming animals are a valuable part of our natural heritage, and comprise a genetic resource that needs to be conserved. 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 in livestock farming. They have an ancient lineage, thought to date back to the cattle the Vikings brought to the Shetlands Islands in the period 700-1100 AD, although since the Vikings were great travellers, there have undoubtedly been other influences.

The Association

The SCBA was founded in 2000 by a group of mainland UK breeders who were concerned about the vulnerable status of the breed, and wished to do something about it. Our cattle are not endangered because they are obsolete, but because we have not adequately communicated what they can do. The SCBA therefore has the following main objectives:

• To help re-establish one of Britain's rarest native cattle breeds. By making information on its unique combination of qualities available, we aim to demonstrate to prospective owners that Shetlands are the right choice for them also.
• To ensure that the breed's valuable genetic resources are conserved for future generations.
• To provide advice to members on husbandry matters and breeding plans, and to support their efforts to market quality stock.

Whether you own one or one hundred Shetlands, or are a non-owner who would like to contribute to securing the future of these valued animals, we would like to welcome you to our Association. See Joining the Association for details. By now, we hope you want to know what is special about Shetlands. Click here for a summary of why we feel so strongly that Shetlands must be conserved.

Pedigree Registrations

The Shetland Cattle Herd Book Society is the registration body for all Shetland cattle and is based in Shetland, the native home of the breed. It was originally constituted in 1910 and has published registrations in Herd Books from 1912 to 1921, and then since 1981. The Shetland Cattle from Shetland Breeders Group was established in 2001 to promote the breed on the Islands. Its role is very similar to that of the SCBA on the mainland. The three groups have the same broad aims for the future of the Shetland breed, and maintain strong links.