– Fabulous Frosting !! –
– Meet the Rest of Class 2 –
– The Sales Process –
Elm Hollow Farm has another graduating class ready to find their permanent homes. This class is pretty evenly distributed with two beautiful heifers, two steers that would be excellent companions for the girls, and two stunning bull calves. All students have graduated with honors and will be ready for sale soon.
Fabulous Frosting !!
For the past several years, the popular colors seemed to be white or silver. Everyone wanted a white Highland and people were willing to do whatever it took to find a white or silver cow to put into their pasture. Those are still favored, but there is a new popularity on the horizon.
Frosting is now desired by many and for good reason. Color variety in Highlands has always been one of the traits that has attracted people to the grand old breed. White and silver can be stunning, but it is also hard to keep clean. Frosting can be an eye-catching addition to all the colors.
This class has an abundance of frosting. The two bull calves are good examples. Elm Hollow’s Mackay is a deep red (we call his mama mahogany) with blond frosting and Elm Hollow’s Mirk is black with silver frosting. Both of these boys are very calm and easy to work with.
Meet the Rest of the Class:
While each calf will have its own sales sheet sent out as a news brief, I thought you might enjoy a peek at the rest of the class.
Those of you who have followed our sales before know how important it is that a calf has an appropriate companion when adjusting to a new environment. During halter training, often times the calves will pair themselves up with a companion. During the sale of a heifer calf, if she has bonded to a steer, I will offer that steer at a reduced price as her companion. This is a great way to get started. The heifers are shown here with the steer they hang out with. Bulls cannot be companions to the heifers because they mature at different rates.
The Sales Process:
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. The announcements of available calves will be sent out to everyone on the newsletter list at least three days before the actual sale and will include the exact date and time the sale will take place.
The announcement will include pictures and description of the calf or cow that is for sale along with the genetic background including three generations. It will also include my comments about the calf, the minimum price, which will be the opening bid price for our modified auction described below.
During the time between the announcement of the sale and the actual sale day, anyone who is interested in participating in the sale should email me at [email protected] and tell me that they will be bidding on that particular calf so I can create an email list of bidders before we begin the sale. You may submit your opening bid during that time if you wish, but you don’t have to make a bid at that time.
I plan to begin sales at 6:00 PM Eastern time on Tuesdays and Thursdays with updates every 15 minutes. The sale will conclude at 8:00 PM or at such time as all but one bidder has dropped out. If there is still active bidding going on at the closing time of the sale, 8:00 PM, those bidders will be put into a joint email chain so they can communicate directly with me and with each other. (An active bidder is a bidder who has made an offer above the highest offer within 15 minutes since the high bid was announced to all who have been bidding.)
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 a two hour window on one evening.
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.
Before You Bid
There are things to consider:
- What are your goals? Do you just want pasture pets? Do you want to raise a few calves to sell? Do you want to provide beef for your family? Do you want a 4H project for a child?
- Do you have facilities in place to handle your Highlands when the vet needs to give them a shot or do some other type of treatment?
- Do you have a source of hay for winter and a place to store that hay?
- Are your fences secure?
- Do you have shade and a source of good water for the heat of the summer?
Now, where do you see yourself with your Highlands two or three years down the road? Please share that information with me if you plan to bid. I want you to be happy with the calf/calves you choose and I may be able to steer you (pun intended) in the right direction if I know what you are looking for.
When I say that you can’t have just one Highland, remember that these are baby cows. They are herd animals, and they will be frightened when they leave here for an unfamiliar place. I’ve heard many sad stories from people who have purchased a lone calf, put it in the pasture and after a day or two can’t find it. That calf has either broken out of the fence to go in search of other cows or has injured itself in a frantic attempt to find companionship. So far, that has not happened to any from Elm Hollow, but that’s because we always make sure there is a companion animal with the calves we sell.
If you are looking for pasture pets and do not intend to raise calves or if you are looking for a 4H project, I highly recommend that you consider steers. Steers are even tempered, they are less expensive than heifers, and they are not likely to jump the fence in search of cows when love is in the air. This year, Elm Hollow will have a total of eight heifer calves, two or three bull calves, and eight or nine steers. A bull calf must meet a high level of expectation to remain a bull, most are steered during halter training if not before.
We have red, yellow, and black calves this year. These are the traditional Scottish colors, but remember, color is the least important trait. Look for good feet, straight backs, good health and gentle temperament in a calf.
There will be only one more halter class in 2024 with two heifers and two steers as their companions.
This is WKA Braxton, our herd sire. Notice that the different lighting brings out different colors in his coat. He is a lovely brindle in bright sunlight and looks red with yellow frosting when it is overcast.
Braxton is sire to all the calves this year. Next year, we plan to have 15 calves produced by AI (artificial insemination) who will have a variety of sires. Braxton is still our official herd sire and he will be the sire of at least a dozen babes himself.