For Sale – Seamrag of Legacy

A quality, registered heifer with many years of beautiful calves ahead of her

I’d planned on keeping Seamrag. We call her Shamrock because Seamrag is Gaelic for Shamrock. I was delighted when Shamrock arrived as a calf at her mother’s side because I really wanted a dun heifer. Shamrock is beautiful and has an outstanding genetic background.

As she grew and was halter trained, I was surer than ever that this was the exact addition to Elm Hollow Farm that I’d been looking for. I had let three other dun heifers her age go and was kicking myself for not saving one of them for our program, so here was just what I wanted.

Earlier this year, a former buyer contacted me to ask for help in rehoming the three heifers she had purchased from Elm Hollow because her life had changed and she had to move to the city. I was excited to have the opportunity to buy back one of the dun heifers I’d let go. She and Shamrock looked almost like identical twins, but because her name begins with ELM HOLLOW’S and we are working towards our dams carrying the Elm Hollow name, I decided to let Shamrock go. I know I’ll regret doing it!

Shamrock still enjoys a good brushing, and the sun brings out her true color.

If you’ve been following Elm Hollow for a while, you’ll remember Twisty, which I sold earlier this year. Twisty, Keaira2nd of Legacy, AHCA # 58750,  is Shamrock’s dam.

As I look at Shamrock’s ancestry, I know why I love her: we still have, BR Voodoo Magic, Double R Hunny Bunny, and CCZ Bristol. She just has that solid look that I like.

For all of you looking for a quality, well-bred heifer that will be ready for fall breeding, Shamrock would be ideal. She has many years of beautiful calves ahead of her. Shamrock is two years and two months old. She is not bred and probably should not be bred for at least another 6 months when she will be a little more mature.

What’s next

Shamrock’s sale will be by modified auction done through email. To get on the bidder’s list, simply send an email to [email protected] with your name and location. In the subject line, put “Add Me to the Bidder List.” If you plan to bid, you may submit your opening bid when you send that email, but no bid is required in this email.

I will be requesting information about your pastures, facilities for handling, goals, etc. It is important to gather this information before the sale because I don’t accept bids unless I’m sure my girls will have a safe home.

I will send bidders additional information about the bidding process before the day of the sale.

Shamrock is available with an opening bid of $5,000.

Update: Shamrock sold for $7,350.

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.