Queen Elizabeth Withheld Her Cattle From Scotland Event For This ‘Worrying’ Reason

Queen Elizabeth II has decided not to include her cattle in this year’s Highland Games.

Her Majesty’s stockman, Dochy Ormiston, who is in charge of the Queen’s royal herd, said that the monarch’s cows have been kept away from the Highland Games because of some health issues.

“We have not entered any show this year. We are a closed herd and we are very frightened over its health status,” he told Express.

The Queen founded the Balmoral fold of Highland cattle in 1953, and she currently has 50 animals on the estate. Her Majesty’s fold is considered as one of the United Kingdom’s top Highland breeders.

Following the announcement, Angus MacKay, former Highland Cattle Society president, said that it is a bit sad that the Queen’s cattle are not part of this year’s show.

“I can understand why. She is extremely knowledgeable about the breed and about her own fold and how it developed. She would have certainly been involved in the decision not to show them. The way to maintain such a fold like Balmoral is to have a closed herd and if you show your animals they risk being exposed to animals of lesser health quality,” he said.

The former president added that Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis is especially a problem.

“Another problem with maintaining a high healthy herd is that after each show your animals have to be isolated from the main fold for three weeks, and then re-tested by a vet before being allowed to return to the herd,” he said.

In related news, the Queen also made headlines after it was revealed that she doesn’t need a driver’s license. According to British law, Her Majesty doesn’t need a license because the document is issued in her name. The same rule applies when it comes to a passport. The Queen doesn’t need one when traveling, but the other members of the royal family are required to bring it along with them.