– New Calves Are Here –
– Proper Companions –
– Meet the Coos Part 4 –
NEW CALVES ARE HERE
Our fall calving got off to a bit of a rocky start when Karl decided he just couldn’t wait till his scheduled birthday to get out of the dark and see the world. In spite of being almost two weeks premature, he hit the ground running, but we decided to slow him down a little so he would take the time to bond with his beautiful mama, Big Ridge Abigail. Elm Hollow’s Karl’s birth was followed by 14 more calves in the fall/winter of 2021. Six heifers and nine bulls in all.
This year’s calves began arriving a bit early too with the first little bull being born on New Year’s Day. He was a tad premature, but little TLC and a place inside to bond with his patient mama made all the difference. EH Lavena’s Laddie is now healthy and strong. Laddie’s birth was followed by a beautiful heifer calf, Darcy’s Magic Lady. We’re looking for 2 more calves by the end of March. Fingers crossed for heifers!
MINI LESSON FOR THOSE
WHO ARE JUST GETTING INTO HIGHLANDS
Proper companions
A Highland Heifer, a female from birth to the time of her first calving, should not be in the same pasture as, or even share a fenceline with, a bull of any breed until she has reached maturity at 2.5-3 years of age. Therefore, you should not consider a bull calf a proper companion for a heifer calf. The bull will be capable of breeding by one year of age, and although a heifer can be bred at about that same age, her body is not mature and she will be in grave danger of a difficult birth, stunted growth or at the worst dying during calving. A proper companion would be another heifer, but they seem to be in short supply and high demand.
Another choice is a steer (bull that has been neutered) of the same age or a little older. Steers are often overlooked as pasture companions since most steers are headed for the beef market. A steer though does not have hormone swings, so his temperament is more predictable. He can serve as a companion for cows, calves, bulls and other steers, so he is a versatile and usually a less expensive option. If you purchase a bull calf, your vet can steer the calf for around $100 (be sure to avoid fly season). People who only want pets or pasture ornaments find that two steers are a great choice. We will be steering some of our bull calves this year before selling them. Others we will leave in tact so the buyer will have the choice of using them for breeding. Karl will be sold as a steer.
NEW SEMEN INVENTORY
In 2021 we had the good fortune to acquire an inventory of rare straws from a selection of champion bulls. These are available in limited quantities.
Philip 1st of Hi-Arrow Canadia Bull CAN-9609 AHCA # 30840
Ruger of Mapleview AHCA # 26594
Zeus of Swains TOG13Z Canadian Bull
AHCA # 23225
Full sibling (out of an embryo flush) to Top Gun I of Mapleview AHCA # 31286 All pictures of Top Gun were lost in a data transfer by students doing an article on twin embryos.
Shop Rare Semen
MEET THE COOS OF ELM HOLLOW PART IV
We’re pleased to introduce to another set of the ladies of Elm Hollow Farm.
