For Sale – Elm Hollow’s Kelly
Our Sweetest Steer So Far
Kelly is turning out to be our sweetest steer so far. Although Kelly is quite a handsome boy, we do follow the science here and weigh and measure our bull calves to see if they would be good sires. We are pretty picky and look for any flaw that might be passed on to offspring as well. We found no flaws in Kelly, but compared to the other bull calves this year, he didn’t gain quite as fast, so we elected to band him and produce a beautiful little steer.
Kelly was born November 15, 2021 to one of our most docile cows and his dam’s easy temperament shows in Kelly’s personality. His sire is a gentle and even-tempered bull.
Kelly happened to be in the pasture where we began halter training the first group of calves, and even though he was younger and still with his mama, Kelly would come right in and wait for his halter like the big kids. He is so cooperative and was the first one to walk quietly without any tugging needed to get started.
Kelly will be a great companion to a heifer, bull or another steer. I always recommend that if you want a pet, choose a steer. They are more even tempered because there are no hormone swings to deal with. When a cow is in heat, she can get cranky, and a bull can get obstinate when he detects love the air.
We don’t register our steers because they won’t be reproducing, so there’s no need. We do register their birth with the AHCA and you can trace their lineage through the herdbook. Kelly’s sire is Big Ridge Fergus, AHCA # 57487, and his dam is PHF Chocolate Pudding AHCA # 58165.
Kelly has many calf friends in the pasture. He grazes calmly with the heifers and tends to avoid the rough house play with the boys. Kelly is so easy going that he could be that cuddle coo you can nap with in the pasture or the barn.
Opening bid is $2,000. He can be registered at buyer’s request for $100.
Update: Kelly sold for $2,800.
This is how the sale process works:
I’ve had several people tell me that they missed out on a calf (or cow) they really had their heart set on when I just posted them for sale and sold them to the first responder because they sell so quickly. If you have participated in some of our calf sales in the past, you know how long they could drag on, so I’ve been working on streamlining the actual sale time while still giving bidders plenty of notice when there is going to be a sale. The announcements will remain in the same format as they have been and will be sent out to everyone on the newsletter list at least 3 days before the actual sale and will include the exact date and time the sale will take place.
I plan to begin sales on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Eastern time with updates every 30 minutes, and we will conclude the sale by 8:00 PM. As before, if there is still active bidding going on at 8:00 PM, those bidders will be put into a group email and continue until a winner is declared. (An active bidder is a bidder who has made an offer above the highest offer during the final 30-minute period from 7:30-8:00.) If there is more than one active bidder at the end of the sale time, those bidders will be put into a joint email chain so they can communicate directly with me and with each other.
This method will allow everyone a three-day heads up that a calf is for sale and time spent watching the sale is cut down to just one evening.
As before, sale begins with the listed price of ($xxxx), which represents the lowest price I’m willing to accept for the calf or cow being sold.
Please be aware that the minimum price stated is probably not the price the calf or cow will actually sell for. Visit our Highlands for Sale page to see beginning prices and the sale prices from last year.
https://elmhollowfarm.com/highlands-for-sale/
If you are interested in making an offer on the listed calf/cow, let me know by email to [email protected] any time after the post is made and before the sale actually is scheduled to begin.
It is helpful to include some information about the environment that calf will be moving into. We consider this factor with greater weight even than the offer, as we've spent so much time preparing our calves and want the best possible placement for them. I also need to know your plans and goals with Highlands because some calves might be better suited than others for your purposes, and I can help you choose the right ones. If I have no information about the farm and your plans for the calf, I won’t consider your offer. (If you provided this information in a previous sale, please remind me of that.)
Here are some of the things that it is important for me to know: (If you’re experienced with Highlands or any cattle, some of these questions will seem silly, but if this will be your first Highland, these are important.) Narrative with this info included is fine, it isn’t a test.
1. Have you raised cattle before? If not, do you have a source of information on keeping them healthy? (Don’t worry, we began with no experience but we had a local extension agent, local vet, and a mentor who had raised Highlands for years to help us.) If this will be your first cow ever, please read Newsletter #15 from our website.
2. Do you have other cattle now? Why did you decide to get Highlands?
3. What are your plans for Highlands? Pets, beef, showing, breeding stock, pasture ornaments? This will help me guide your choice of calves. They have different personalities and some may not fit your plans.
4. Do you have a relationship with a large animal vet? It is important to establish that before you NEED a vet. Also, you need a way to confine your cow if a vet does need to come out for some reason.
5. Are your fences secure? Not just to keep cows in, but also neighboring bulls out.
6. Will there be shade and water available in your pasture? (Highlands do not tolerate heat without shade and plenty of fresh water.)
7. How big is your pasture? 2 acres per cow is recommended (that will also support her calf)
8. What is your water source? (standing water can become contaminated and cause health issues.)
9. Do you have a fly control plan? This will help protect them from pinkeye, which can cause blindness.
10. Do you know what minerals your cattle will require in a supplement to keep your cows healthy? (consult your Ag Extension Agent)
11. Do you have a good hay source for winter? (plan ahead for high quality hay and its safe storage)
12. Do you solemnly swear to send pictures and videos and give them hugs and kisses daily. Also will you tell them I miss them, and if they need to come home they can? (I mean that, call if you need to rehome an animal from Elm Hollow Farm. If I don’t have room at the time, I will help you find a suitable home.)
And last but not least:
13. Will your Highland have a compatible, BOVINE pasture companion? (Cows are herd animals, failure to provide a pasture companion will cause them to seek companionship.) If they can, they will escape the pasture and go looking, if they can’t escape, they may consider a person their companion. (THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING!) As a calf, it can be cute for them to run up and bump you or rub on you, but as a full grown cow, that can be dangerous. You may have heard stories about bottle bulls killing their owners. They consider their owner a part of their herd and interact as they would with another 1500# cow. That can hurt!
Fee to transfer calves/cows into the buyer’s name will be paid by Elm Hollow Farm for up to 90 days after the date of sale. If transfer is not sent and received by AHCA within that 90 day period, the buyer will be responsible for the fee.
Elm Hollow’s Kelly, a cuddle coo for you and your herd.
Kelly as a newborn calf with his dam PHF Chocolate Pudding, one of our most docile cows.
Kelly during halter training.
Kelly’s sire, Blue Ridge Fergus, ACHA # 57487.
Kelly at six months.