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Lady Ladean
Registered Highland
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When possible, highlands will seek a secluded location to calve and choose to
keep the calf away from the herd for a couple days or more. Un-assisted births
are the norm for 2 year old heifers and older.
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Sally
Halfblood HighlandxLonghorn
7 calves
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Highland cross cows are proven easy keepers worldwide.
This longhorn x highland halfblood first calved in the fall then averaged
less than 11 months between calves for 5 years until she was on the
spring calving cycle.
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Margold
Registered
Current boss cow
5 calves
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Highland cows have a definite pecking order which results in the strongest
leading the herd. When the ranking is clear, less fighting results.
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Goldie
Purebred Highland
5 Calves
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This was the only calf I've ever assisted to start nursing properly. Highland
calves are noted for their toughness and resilience. I've heard stories of
newborn calves going days without nursing yet still surviving. A local angus
rancher uses highland bulls on his heifers because the calves are
tough and get right up.
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Smokie
Registered
8 calves
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Early on most cows are very protective of their calves and will fearlessly defend
their young from people or any other perceived threats. Usually they will just
lead the calf away. Their eyes will tell you alot.
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Bonnie
3/4 Highland x Longhorn
3 calves
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Above, Bonnie tends her young steer's poked eye.
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Goldie with Fiona
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Scotch cows bond closely with their calves and rarely lose track of them.
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Smokie & MacSmoke
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Irma with Humbolt
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Early on, cows will tell their calf when it's time for a snack and adjust their
milk output as the calf's needs increase.
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Smokie & Rory
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Rona
Registered Highland Twin
3 calves
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Sally with her first.
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Sally & Smokie with
heifer calves
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It's not uncommon for a cow to allow anothers calf to nurse. The cow below
nursed two cows at will when she was a calf.
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Daughter of Solus with her
second calf
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Osla
Registered Highland
2 calves
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Lilias
3/4 Highland x longhorn
With first calf
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With most breeds, a heifer calf will have a slower start and weigh less at
weaning. Lilias's first calf above was ahead of the bunch and is a good bull
prospect.
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Elma
Registered Highland
6 calvings
Twins her first two years
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Twins are fairly rare. The cow above twinned her first two years and was bred
to two different bulls.
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Bonnie with Brandi
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Highland milk is high in butterfat.
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Powder Puff
with her last calf
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Powder Puff delivered her third calf(above) unassisted but paralyzed her rear
legs. She was never able to stand on her own and had to be put down 13 days
after the birth of her calf.
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Smokie & Sicily
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Zoe
Registered Highland
First calf
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Elma & Bianca
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Margold & Rose
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Irma
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Sally & Her 7th
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Morna
Registered Highland
First calf
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Osla & her first
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Sally's hidden calf
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Finding a newborn calf in sagebrush can be a challenge. Watch the cow, she'll
let you know when you're close. Don't expect the calf to be close to the herd. I
have seen calves hidden a quarter mile away. They lie perfectly still but will jump
up and make a beeline away. I had to catch a day old that ran straight away
through a neighbor's fence.
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Sally checking on her
hidden calf and giving
away the hiding spot.
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