📣 Horns N Hooves are back with another auction - Mother's Day Sale, May 10th. More details to follow!

Ever wondered how online livestock auctions actually work - and whether to trust them? Lori and Taylor sit down with Carol and Becky from Willoughby and W2 Auction Solutions to pull back the curtain on the online auction world. From reserves and racehorse-style bidding to bidder anonymity and fair market value, this episode cuts through the noise and the Facebook drama.

Key Takeaways

Online auctions create a level playing field for buyers and sellers.

Reserves and floors are not the same thing - knowing the difference matters.

Racehorse-style bidding benefits both buyers and sellers.

Bidder anonymity protects everyone and is standard practice across all auction types.

Auction results across different farms cannot be directly compared - genetics, registration, and marketing all affect price.

Episode Highlights

Carol explains how W2 Auction Solutions went from live shows to pioneering online livestock sales in 2006.

The team breaks down racehorse-style vs. staggered-ending auctions and why livestock sellers prefer it.

Lori and Carol tackle the Facebook misconceptions around shill bidding and fake prices.

Becky and the hosts discuss why even smaller breeders benefit from using auction software.

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome back and guest introductions

01:14 — How W2 Auction Solutions was born

04:00 — Why online auctions cut out the time-wasters

07:44 — Racehorse-style vs. staggered ending auctions

09:03 — Reserves, floors, and fair market value explained

10:25 — The truth about bidder anonymity

17:39 — Misconceptions and the online auction learning curve

25:06 — Can you compare prices across different auctions?

30:00 — Building your brand before you sell

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Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast

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Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com

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

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 Takeaways

Have 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 Highlights

Lauren'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.

Timestamps

00:00 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 moments

Follow 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.com

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

Lori's back after a scary health battle - a heart ablation that changed everything - and she's not holding back. In this raw, just-us episode, Lori and Taylor catch up on the chaos of calving season: surprise twins, backwards calves, stillbirths, mastitis warnings, and one very mischievous pig named Arnold. Real talk, real farm life.

Key Takeaways

Health comes first - Lori's heart ablation was terrifying, but waiting would have been worse.

Always check for a second calf after a difficult pull, especially a backwards presentation.

Keep new mums and calves in the barn - it's how you catch mastitis before it becomes a crisis.

Shaving around a Highland's udder can help you monitor bag health and reduce bacteria.

C-section cows can breed back successfully - don't automatically cull them.

Episode Highlights

Lori's heart ablation story and recovery. Twin bull calves - one born 17 hours after the other! A backwards calf pulled at 1am. Jojo's back-to-back stillbirths and the tough decisions that follow. Mastitis caught just in time. Arnold the pig causing chaos (as always).

Timestamps

0:00 — Welcome back & Lori's health update

2:30 — Heart ablation recovery

5:00 — Calving season chaos begins

6:30 — The backwards twin at 1am

9:00 — Discovering the second twin 17 hours later

12:30 — Jojo's stillborn calves

14:45 — The Shortlander C-section story

18:00 — Mastitis: catching it before it's too late

22:40 — Highland udder shaving & bull manscaping

25:00 — Arnold the pig strikes again

26:30 — Come on the podcast!

Follow 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.com

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