In this episode of Horns n Hooves, we are joined by special guest Annie Howe to discuss her deep-rooted history in the cattle industry and her transition into showing high-quality registered Highland cattle. From Craigslist beginnings to winning division titles at major shows like Louisville, Annie shares the passion and dedication required to maintain breed standards and family legacies. We dive into the critical differences between miniature crossbreds and registered Highlands, emphasizing why quality must always come before color or size.

Listeners can expect a raw conversation about the "livestock reality," including the challenges of winter calving, the vital importance of herd health through vaccinations, and the dangers of working with horned cattle. Annie reminds us that while these animals are beautiful, they are exactly how God made them 2,000 years ago, and it is our responsibility to protect their integrity. As Annie says, "If you're not breeding to advance the breed, don't breed".

Key Takeaways

The Importance Of Quality Genetics: Prioritize conformation and sound breeding over easy-to-quantify traits like color or small size to ensure the long-term health of the breed.

Vaccinations And Biosecurity: Protecting your investment means providing the best possible protection through vaccinations, especially when animals are being transported across the country.

Livestock Safety And Boundaries: Never forget that horned cattle are dangerous; maintaining strict rules and expectations in the barn is essential for preventing injury.

The Role Of A Reliable Vet: Finding a veterinarian who is as invested in your vision and your cattle as you are is a game-changer for any producer.

Episode Highlights

Craigslist Beginnings: How a random search led to an incredibly well-bred foundation bull and a lifelong obsession.

The Shift To Showing: Rediscovering the love for the show ring and the impact of seeing success click for the whole family.

Preserving The Breed: Why Highlands are unique because they haven't been changed by the packing industry and still retain their ancient traits.

The Reality Of Loss: A sobering look at the challenges of saving a hypothermic calf during a difficult calving season.

Timestamps

00;01;05 — Annie’s lifelong history in the cattle industry

00;03;32 — Transitioning into showing registered Highlands

00;11;34 — Why the industry must focus on quality over color and size

00;18;03 — The necessity of vaccines for animals traveling nationwide

00;23;03 — Dealing with hypothermic calves and winter calving issues

00;28;35 — The value of finding a vet invested in your vision

00;36;33 — Critiquing the pitfalls of breeding for size alone

00;41;05 — Why you should invest extra money in high-quality bulls

00;53;05 — Dangerous encounters and the importance of livestock boundaries

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Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_

In this episode, we're diving deep into the realities of winter cattle management, sharing tips, tricks, and a few crazy farm stories. We're talking about the challenges of keeping water thawed, how we're adapting our feeding programs, and the unexpected excitement of late-fall/early-winter calving. We want to hear what everyone else is doing for winter feeding, feeders, and waterers - it’s always interesting to learn from other regions and experiences. We’ll also be sharing a hairy calving situation we just experienced, which turned into a crucial learning experience.

We discuss the pain of constantly running extension cords and needing water heaters for tanks, and the overall tediousness of checking cows in the cold weather, especially when you don't live right where your cows are. Plus, we're celebrating a much-needed barn upgrade, which felt like a surprise from Santa himself.

Key Takeaways Of The Episode

The struggle is real when it comes to keeping water thawed and calculating feed weight and waste during the winter.

Hay feeders are a hot topic, as different styles work for different people - we want to know what kind of feeders you use to minimize waste.

Winter calving is a big commitment and requires constant checking and potentially intervening, especially in cold temperatures, as things can go south quickly.

Episode Highlights

• The Winter Water Struggle: Discussing water heaters, running extension cords, and the challenges of breaking ice in water tanks (sometimes a few inches thick!).
• The Calving Learning Curve: A detailed story about a recent calving where a heifer and calf needed intervention due to the cold, despite mild Nebraska weather, and how we had to tube-feed colostrum.
• Feeder Safety: Highlighting the dangers of certain feeder styles after losing a calf last year and the recent hairy situation of a cow getting stuck.
• Santa's Barn Upgrade: Celebrating the much-anticipated arrival of insulated barn pieces and a head gate that will make winter management and handling registered cattle much easier.

Timestamps

• Welcome Back & Winter Prep Overview: 00:01:00
• The Water Heater and Extension Cord Pain: 00:04:15
• Discussing Hay Feeders and Feed Waste: 00:10:45
• Feeder Safety Issues and Stuck Cows: 00:19:10
• A Hairy Calving Situation and Intervention: 00:27:00
• The Much-Needed Barn Upgrade Arrives: 00:34:20

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Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

Welcome to a very blessed and important episode of the Horns N Hooves Auction Podcast! This week, we are joined by a special guest, Dr. McKenzie Hendrix, a phenomenal and amazing veterinarian, to talk about the crucial basics of mini cattle care, particularly focusing on the first few months of a calf's life. We cover everything from proper colostrum and nutrition to essential vaccination protocols and signs of illness like pinkeye or pneumonia. Dr. McKenzie offers incredible insights to help you manage your herd and tackle those stressful calf-birthing times with confidence.

Key Takeaways: Mini Cattle Health & Management

The importance of the first 24 hours of a calf's life for colostrum intake and immune system set-up is a core theme.

Proper nutrition and having a good veterinarian relationship are non-negotiable for mini cattle health.

Be vigilant for subtle signs of illness or unusual behavior in your animals, especially during stressful times like shipping or calving season.

Prevention is easier and more cost-effective than treatment, so having supplies on hand is crucial.

Episode Highlights

Veterinary Relationship & Protocol: We emphasize building a formal relationship with a cattle vet and having a pre-set vaccination protocol for your herd.

Colostrum & Immunity: Learn the vital role of the mom's first milk (colostrum) in transferring antibodies (IgG) within the first 24 hours and the need for high-quality replacers if the calf does not receive enough.

Disease Prevention: Discussions include managing risks like BVD, pneumonia, and pinkeye, noting how they can spread quickly, especially in new or mixed herds.

Calving & Labor: Guidance on the three stages of labor and when you should be prepared to intervene or call your vet, particularly after two hours of active pushing by the cow.

Nutrition: Essential advice on balancing your herd's diet with forage (hay and grass), avoiding too much grain, and consulting a nutritionist for optimal health.

Timestamps

[0:00] Welcome, Introduction to Dr. McKenzie Hendrix

[0:05] Discussing the importance of a good vet relationship

[0:15] Talking calf care basics: Colostrum and immunity

[0:20] Vaccination and disease prevention protocols

[0:30] Understanding the stages of cow labor and intervention

[0:40] Nutrition, feed, and why forage is primary

[0:50] Signs of a sick calf (fever, nasal discharge, pinkeye)

[1:00] Dealing with BVD and quarantining new animals

[1:05] Wrap-up and thanks to Dr. McKenzie

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Production Credit:

Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/