– New and Returning Elm Hollow Residents –
– Heifers for Sale –
– Sales process –
If you have been receiving Elm Hollow newsletters for a while, you know that I have frequently stated that I am absolutely not buying another cow. So, last Saturday I didn’t buy a cow. Instead, I bought three cows (two of them with calves at side, and two of them bred to one of my favorite Elm Hollow bulls of all time, EH Ban Diuc’s Bonus.)
How many Highlands is that all together? The answer, if I calculated correctly, is eight! That should help fill the void left by our older retiring cows.
Who joined us? DH Lulu has finally returned to us! I really love this gentle girl. I’ve had seller’s remorse since the day I let Lulu leave Elm Hollow.
First our returning residents. DH Lulu (black) and her first calf, EH Jamesie (red cow) and Jamesie’s month old heifer calf, LCL Raelah Brinn. Lulu will be having a late summer calf next month.
New River Isla and her first calf, LCL Shae-Lyn are new to Elm Hollow Farm, but are very welcome additions to the fold. Isla will be calving in February/March along with several of our AI’d cows.
WE FINALLY HAVE A FEW HEIFER CALVES READY FOR NEW PASTURES!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR FIRST SALES!
July 29th is our first scheduled sale. We plan to sell one calf each Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. If you have never participated in our sales, the procedure is explained at the end of this newsletter.
I like to chat with prospective buyers before the actual sale date just to be sure the calf they plan to bid on will meet their needs and expectations. Sometimes there is another calf coming up that would be better suited for their goals.
Remember that cattle are herd animals and must have a suitable, bovine companion. A second calf purchased by the same buyer in the same year receives a 5% discount on final sale price and we will hold the first calf so they can be transported together.
Here are some quick intros to the calves we will be selling. Each calf will have its own sales sheet with more information than you probably need about them.
TUESDAY July 29th:
Elm Hollow’s Nola, AHCA # 70964. Nola is our smallest calf in the first two halter classes. Her conformation is correct and in a very small package, typical of traditional Scottish Highlands.
She was so shy and timid at first that she was bullied. Nola has learned to stand up for herself in the pasture but continues to be sweet to her humans. She walks easily on a lead. Nola’s beginning bid will be $8,000.
TUESDAY, August 5th:
Scotch Valley Nairna, AHCA # 71249 is a mid sized calf with outstanding genetics and compliance to breed standards. Nairna was a little older and bigger than her classmates early in her halter training, and felt like she needed to be a leader.
She walks calmly on a lead and will likely mature a little earlier than the average Highland heifer. Her background of Drover Hill and Maple View will make her a wonderful addition to any breeding program. Nairna’s beginning bid will be $7,500.
TUESDAY, August 12th:
Elm Hollow’s Rosebud AHCA # pending (U20079) Rosebud is a very correct, feminine small- to mid-framed calf. She will be a beautiful cow just like her dam. In her genetic background she has two impact bulls, an impact dam and an elite impact dam. I’m expecting great productivity from this sweet, easy-going girl. Opening bid for Rosebud will be $7,500.
Note that this sale is on THURSDAY, August 14th.
Elm Hollow’s Roseanna AHCA # pending (U20080) One of our prettiest little heifers, Roseanna is quite feminine and she is yellow.
Roseanna was a little spitfire on day one of halter training but with some TLC, she is becoming a sweet young lady. By the time of her sale, she will be a little puppy dog like the others. Opening bid for Roseanna will be $7,500.
A few days before each sale, you will receive a “News Brief” on the individual calf to be sold. That brief will include baby photos, photos of sire and dam, and genetic background as well as narrative about the calf. If you know from the introductions above, which calf or calves need to be on your farm, let me know and I can place you on the bidder list.
Sarah and I are excited to get started with this season’s offers. We have at least four more heifers and four very special little bulls coming up. For those new to Highlands, be aware that heifers over 6-8 months old should not be exposed to a bull of any age until they are 2.5 years old to prevent premature pregnancy, which can be very dangerous or even fatal for an immature heifer trying to calve before she is fully developed, so don’t plan to buy a heifer calf and have her companion to be a bull calf.
SALES PROCESS AT ELM HOLLOW FARM
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 3 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 that they will be bidding on that particular calf, so I can create an email list of bidders before we begin the sale. nancy@elmhollowfarm.com You may submit your opening bid during that time if you wish, but you don’t have to make a bid at this time.
I plan to begin sales at 7:00 PM Eastern time with updates every 10 – 15 minutes, and we will conclude the sale at 8:00 PM or such time as all but one bidder has dropped out. As before, 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 placed)
This method will allow everyone a heads up that a calf is for sale and time spent watching the sale is cut down to just a one hour window on one evening.
Direct any questions to nancy@elmhollowfarm.com
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/