– Our First Calf this Season –
– The Remaining Calves From the Last Halter Training are Ready to Moove on –
– The Sales Process –
On a beautiful Sunday morning, we were thrilled to find our first calf of
the season. It was a particularly great day for Elm Hollow’s Jonquil as
she became a successful mother for the first time.
Last year, as a heifer, Jonquil was confused and upset when her beautiful calf was stillborn. I know she had done her best, because I witnessed the birth. This time though, she followed the birthing protocol perfectly and her little heifer calf was up and nursing within an hour.
I know that many breeders will cull a heifer that loses her first calf, but here at Elm Hollow Farm, we believe in second chances. Jonquil’s first calf was born on December 1, 2023, and just 10 months and 20 days later, on October 20, 2024, she had her second calf.
Little Nola has been strong from the start, and even though she is small (37# at birth) she is gaining weight quickly.
Nola is the first of three calves sired by Elm Hollow’s Levi, and is our first totally Elm Hollow calf.
The Southern Highland Cattle Association is now Official!
Thank you to all who responded to the interest survey for the formation of a new regional association.
Details will be announced soon by the SHCA board of directors about how to join the new association and about the Spring Show, which is currently in the planning stage.
Mooving On!
It’s time for the remaining calves from this year’s last halter class to move to their forever homes. The class includes two heifers, one bull, and three steers.
More information, including sires and dams, is on the website.
Meet the Rest of the Class
I thought you might want to have a peek at the rest of the class. You can get more information on each of the calves by visiting our for sale page on the website.
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 for young heifers because they mature at different rates.
Elm Hollow’s Never Enough promises to be a very productive cow when she matures. If your purpose it to raise some nice, registered, Highland calves beginning in the spring of 2027, Never would be a great choice. She should not be exposed to a bull of any age before summer of 2026 when she will be 2.5 years old. Never has been trained to show and would be a great way for someone to get started in the show ring.
Meantime, we have a sweet steer that can serve as her companion. Elm Hollow’s Niall will be offered at a discounted price of $2,500 with the purchase of Never. Niall would be an excellent 4H project for any child interested in trying their hand at showing Highlands.
There will be a separate flyer sent out with details about the sales for Never Enough and Niall in November if they do not sell from the website.
Looking for a couple of smaller sized pasture pets to begin your Highland adventure? You can’t go wrong with this pair. Elm Hollow’s Niamh (pronounced Neeve) and Elm Hollow’s Nehemiah have become quite the little duo. I guess because of their smaller stature they feel braver as a team.
These are the two youngest calves from the class, so they have been drawn to each other from birth. Niamh’s dam is so gentle and she has served as our nanny cow with the last halter class. Niamh takes after her mother with her gentle nurturing ways. Niall is the perfect complement too. The traditional colors of the original Highlands are black and red, so this pairing would give you both.
There will be a separate sales sheet with details about these beautiful calves in November if they have not sold from the website before then.
The Sales Process:
For these last calves, we decided to try a new approach. They will be posted on the Highlands for Sale page on our website.
They will remain on the for sale page for at least two weeks with the price that I believe they should sell for. If they are not purchased during the time they are listed on the website, we will go ahead and do our regular online email based auction for the heifer/steer pairs.
If you are interested in any available cattle, please email me at nancy@elmhollowfarm.com.
Before You Buy
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.