Color Chart
The Six Highland Coat Colors
RedThe classic Highland color.
Yellow / DunWarm golden coat — premium.
BlackBold and dominant.
Silver DunRare, dilute — premium.
BrindleStriped, tiger like patterning.
WhiteThe rarest coat — premium.
Yellow, silver dun, and white are rarer colors that typically command premium pricing. Black tends to dominate, and red is recessive — which is why two red parents usually produce red calves.
Color / Genetics Calculator
Estimate Calf Colors
How to Read It
Genetics, Simplified
Coat color in Highlands is driven by a few interacting genes. A simplified way to think about it:
- Black is dominant — one black allele usually shows.
- Red is recessive — it needs a copy from each parent.
- Dun / yellow is a dilution of the base color.
- Silver dun and white are rarer and generally need carriers on both sides — which is why they’re premium.
Hidden recessives mean surprises happen. For breeding decisions, a color-panel genetic test confirms exactly what an animal carries.
Ask About an Animal’s Color Genetics
See These Colors in Person
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Our program carries premium colors like silver dun and yellow — see what’s available or coming to auction.