This is the eighteenth cache in Kiwimykl’s 'Chorus Cabinet Art' Series. This series is placed to highlight the local artistic talent that Chorus and other utility providers have commissioned to brighten up their otherwise boring P.U.Bs.
There are already caches adorning other painted cabinets around Blenheim which are mostly based on a native bird theme and painted by Gynelle Blake. This piece of artwork is not a bird.
The image depicts the Highland cow
The Highland (Scottish Gaelic: Bò Ghàidhealach; Scots: Hielan coo) is a Scottish breed of rustic cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, bred to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region. The first herd-book dates from 1885; two types – a smaller island type, usually black, and a larger mainland type, usually dun – were registered as a single breed. It is reared primarily for beef, and has been exported to several other countries.
Bulls can weigh up to 800 kg (1,800 lb) and cows up to 500 kg (1,100 lb).
History
Highland cattle descend from the Hamitic Longhorn, which were brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers in the second millennium BC, as the cattle migrated northwards through Africa and Europe. Highland cattle were historically of great importance to the economy, with the cattle being raised for meat primarily and sold in England.
The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating and living mostly in the Outer Hebrides, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. These cattle were named due to the practice of relocating them. The kyles are narrow straits of water, and the cattle were driven across them to get to market.
The other type was the mainland; these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference.
Since the early 20th century, breeding stock has been exported to many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America.
It is estimated that there are now around 15,000 Highland cattle in the United Kingdom.
Characteristics
They have long, wide horns and long, wavy, woolly coats that are coloured red, ginger, black, dun, yellow, white, grey, "silver" (white but with a black nose and ears), or tan, and they also may be brindled.
They have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair—the longest of any cattle breed—covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds.
Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants.
Mature bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and heifers can weigh up to 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). Cows typically have a height of 90–106 centimetres (3–3.5 ft), and bulls are typically in the range of 106–120 centimetres (3.5–4 ft). Mating occurs throughout the year with a gestation period of approximately 277–290 days. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. Sexual maturity is reached at about eighteen months. Highland cattle also have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years.
They have a docile temperament and the milk has a high butterfat content, so have traditionally been used as house cows. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young.
This colourful tribute can be found on the Chorus cabinet in Blenheim's Old Renwick Road.
Gynelle says of her design: Although Marlborough is generally grape territory, we also have some beautiful livestock.
Recently I have noticed several rural properties have beautiful Highland cows running between the grapes and amongst their standard herds.
I wanted to highlight the beauty of the cow, with a back drop of Mt Cook lilies, which tie in with the theme of 'flowers' that I have started to have with my latest Chorus designs.
We all know you aren't permitted to place caches on P.U.Bs any more so to find this one find some numbers to do the projection.
Go to the posted coordinates and read, from the black box adjacent, these numbers "XA abcd"
Now project HJ metres at EFG degrees where:
E = 2 times a
F = b plus a
G = c
H = 2 times c
J = c
B.Y.O.P