Registered vs Unregistered, Calving Chaos and Farm Life Realities with Lauren of Grand Marsh Highlands

What does it really take to build a Highland cattle herd from scratch? This week Taylor sits down with Lauren of Grand Marsh Highlands - a small-scale farmer from Northwest Indiana who went from suburban life to mini Highlands in just six years.Lauren shares the honest realities of cattle ownership: navigating financial hardship, treating sick animals, calving complications, and running a farm solo with young kids. If you're thinking about starting a herd, this one's essential listening.Key TakeawaysHave a large animal vet lined up before your cattle arrive. A head gate or chute is essential - not optional. Registered mini Highlands suit smaller acreages and tighter budgets. Cattle are a genuine financial asset when life gets tough. Know your medicines before your animals arrive.Episode HighlightsLauren's journey from full-size to mini Highlands. Why registered cattle make better business sense. Managing calving complications including meconium-covered calves. Balancing farm work solo with young children. Farm safety realities and heavy machinery near-misses.Timestamps00:00 Welcome and introducing Lauren 01:22 Navigating financial hardship with cattle 04:48 What Lauren wishes she'd known from the start 08:06 Head gates and cattle handling setups 13:45 Registered vs unregistered-  the switch to minis 19:00 Calving complications and what to watch for 20:17 Farming solo with young kids 23:42 Farm safety momentsFollow 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/