Calves, Chaos & The Mother's Day Sale - Lori Racicky & Taylor Hauser

Lori and Taylor are back solo and they've got a lot going on - from weaning 60 calves single-handed in a storm to setting up 77 head for AI in ice pellets and sleet. This episode is a real peek behind the barn door at what it actually takes to run a Highland operation, and it comes with a teaser for something exciting: their Mother's Day auction on May 10th at hornsnhoovesauction.com.They also get into the nitty gritty of weaning age, calf nutrition after early weaning, why keeping calves on mom longer pays off, and embryo work - including a research study with Vitali and some surprise results from Taylor's first embryo calf crop.Key TakeawaysPulling calves at four months isn't always enough - nutrition and socialisation are critical if you do. Chondro testing matters for every calf, not just the ones you're keeping. Private auctions protect buyer anonymity and let you announce your own purchases. Pasture management and drought conditions are hitting Nebraska hard - fires have burned over a million acres.Episode HighlightsTaylor weans 60 head solo with two boys underfoot - and catches a surprise live birth at the finish line. Lori and Taylor break down their Mother's Day auction lineup: Chondropositive heifers, High Park calves, Pickle genetics, and Tornado Cutie - Jackson's miniature panda calf with a story. Plus embryo results, AI planning, and why private auctions are the move.Timestamps00:01 — Welcome & Mother's Day auction announcement 01:08 — UC Davis & Spalding Labs podcast updates 01:43 — Taylor's solo weaning story & surprise calving 06:06 — Pasture management, drought & Nebraska fires 12:21 — Auction format: why private bidding matters 14:00 — Weaning age, calf nutrition & rumen development 19:03 — AI, embryo work & calf crop results 25:02 — Full auction lineup breakdown 41:10 — Sale details: 9am Central, May 10thFind your next herd addition at www.hornsnhoovesauction.comFollow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories!Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast Website: hornsnhoovesauction.comProduction Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/