Cows

Holstein Steer, b. 2017

Huey is a steer, which is a neutered male cow and his breed Holstein, is a breed of dairy cow. He was six weeks old when he was bought at auction by someone who lived in our neighborhood and gave him to us as a Christmas present.  There is not much need for male dairy cows and as a result, they are mainly used for meat, veal and breeding.

Huey is a loveable goof ball who took to people very quickly. He often hung out with the goats and the pigs in his younger years and made all sorts of friends. Just like a puppy dog, he would run, play and follow you around. As he got older, he became more friendly, laid back and was the star of our fundraisers. Megan, our Barn Manager/Riding Instructor, taught Huey how to walk with a halter although Huey is so big now, we can no longer find a halter big enough to fit him. Dairy cows can weigh up to 3,000 lbs. and Huey is not far from that number. He is now best friends with Chance, loves afternoon scratches and anything edible.

Sponsored by Barb Short, Sally Stratton, Lizbeth Beck, Annie Boehm, and Rosebelle Llosa

Dairy calves are removed from their mothers within 24 hours of being born so that we can have milk. They are then raised on a bottle and weaned early to be sent to veal farms, raised for meat if they are male and raised for milking if they are female. If they were weaned naturally by their mothers, they would nurse until 8 months old.

Miniature Zebu

Hickory came to us in 2022. Since he is a miniature, he will not get any larger than his current size. Hickory came from a family that raised him as a pet. However they did not have enough room for him.  Most species prefer their own kind and he needed a playmate. This made him a perfect fit for our farm since Chance is so young and needed someone to play with. All three cows are a family and very close.

Zebus come from India.  They are one of the oldest breeds of cattle. They have very long lifespans, an average of 18 to 21 years.

Miniature zebus are used for meat production like other types of cattle. Because of their smaller body size, the production output is proportionately less than with other cattle breeds. In Hindu areas, such as parts of India where cattle are sacred, miniature zebus are used for milk and as draft animals.

Miniature Zebu’s have been around for thousands of years, with their roots coming from off the coast of Southern India. Miniature Zebu’s are also native to Southeast Asia and Africa. With this climate the breed was able to develop a high tolerance to heat and insects. Their ability to do this is thanks to sweat glands and a highly active sub-dermal twitching muscle.
The heritage of the Miniature Zebu dates back to 3,000 B.C., where they were often used as draft animals or milking cows. Several Minatare Zebu cattle began to appear at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. This appearance is considered the first time that the breed had arrived in the United States. Miniature Zebu are the only naturally miniature breed of cattle.

Jersey Steer, b. 2020

Chance is also a breed of dairy cow. He was approximately 2 days old when Megan bought him at auction for $2.00. He was so young he still had his umbilical cord attached. He was very sick as a calf because when you switch a calf from mother's milk to formula, they often get Scours, which is major diarrhea. Luckily, Chance is a champ and overcame all obstacles while adjusting to H&S life. Like Huey, he was penned with the goats and pigs as a baby and he became great friends with our goat, Apollo. He is very curious and into everything. He is now in love with Huey and very close with his sponsor, McCall.

Sponsored by Tracy & McCall Christman