– There’s more than one way to create a calf –
– Retiring Highlands need love too –
– Save the Date: SHCA is planning ahead! –
– Replacing our retiring cows –
There’s More Than One Way to Create a Calf !!
With the shock of losing our beautiful bull, came the scrambling to assure a successful calf crop for next year. It has been a crushing blow to us to face the next season with almost nothing to offer for sale.
One of the subscribers of this newsletter contacted me and asked if I knew about a system that allowed us to monitor a cow’s breeding cycles so our AI efforts would be more effective.
I was intrigued and investigated it. We put monitoring tags in the ears of all of our breeding age cows and get reports to our phone when a cow comes into heat. It monitors the breeding cycle and gives us data about the best time to AI!
Since we already have the latest technology for breeding, knowing when to do it certainly helps. So, this year, we are in the learning process of using what we have to create calves even without a bull.
Retiring Highlands Need Love Too
I think of the new life stage my husband and I are entering and our vow that from now on, our dog and cat adoptions will be carefully selected seniors — those gentle animals that we can love and care for during their golden years.
We adopted a German Shepherd named Lady when she lost her owner at age 11. She lived to be 14 and was such a blessing.
Then I thought that there are probably folks who love Highlands and would love to have a couple, but don’t want to commit 20 years and don’t want to do the whole breeding, calving, and halter training thing. Just feed them treats, comb them, and watch them keep their pastures mowed without the bush hog. They would still need hay in the winter and minerals to keep them healthy, but that’s easy.
The average life span of a Highland is 20 years, but most of our girls seem to quit producing calves at around 15 years.
We love seeing them in the pasture and knowing that they are gentle enough to allow visitors to interact with them but would like to offer them to others who might want some lovely ornaments in their pasture too.
Priced very reasonably; remember that Highlands are herd animals so must have a companion.
You can see them on our Highlands for Sale page.
I’ll ask a lot of questions about your accommodations for the old girls because we love them and want them to have a wonderful old age. There are four lovely girls already on our page.
Save the Date: SHCA is Planning Ahead!
If you haven’t already heard, Southern Highland Cattle Association is having their Third Spring Classic Show on March 12, 2027, and the second Spring Classic Sale on March 13! Come and join in the fun in Clemson, SC.
-March 12-
AHCA Double Points Show
Junior Show, Open Show, & Showmanship all in one day
Post-Show Banquet
-March 13-
AHCA Highland Cattle Sale
Halter Broke Live Lots
Frozen Genetics
After the show, the SHCA will have its second annual Spring Classic Sale. All animals in this live sale are AHCA registered and halter trained.
Consider becoming a sponsor of the 2027 SHCA Spring Classic. Your farm will be advertised in the show book, in the arena and announced during the show and sale.
Mark your calendar!
March 12 & 13, 2027
https://www.southernhighlandcattle.org/events
Replacing Our Retiring Cows
Here are the girls who are in the running to replace our retirees and the few cows we plan to sell. We will have a couple of these young ladies available later.
Elm Hollow’s Raquel
Because of repetition of color or genetics, we are considering the sale of a couple of these girls since we really don’t need this many. Email nancy@elmhollowfarm.com if you might be interested.