06/22/2026
🚨 THE DIRTY STRAW REPORT – MONDAY 🚨
𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐄
One of the biggest mistakes I see in livestock today isn't bad genetics, bad management, or even bad breeders.
It's buying an animal before deciding what job you want that animal to do.
And honestly, it's a mistake I've made myself. Multiple times.
Like many people entering the world of designer livestock, I shopped with my eyes.
I bought the fluffy one, the cute one, the one with the sad story, the one I thought I could save, and the one I thought would fit whatever dream I had at the moment.
Five years later, I'm paying for some of those decisions.
Not because the animals are bad animals.
Not because they aren't loved.
But because they don't fit the purpose of our farm and the direction we're trying to go.
And let me tell you, making the decision to part with an animal you've poured your heart, time, energy, and money into is hard.
Now imagine making that decision three times.
Seven times.
Ten times.
Think about the financial investment you're walking away from.
Then add the emotional investment on top of it.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Because every purchase eventually catches up with you.
The rise of designer farming has also changed the way many people shop for livestock.
Highlands. HighParks. Mini cattle. Babydoll sheep. Mini pigs.
People who have no interest in raising beef cattle or dairy cows are suddenly finding themselves shopping for livestock because they want a homestead, an agritourism business, a social media brand, a breeding program, or simply a few beautiful animals to enjoy.
And there's nothing wrong with that.
The designer market isn't just lucrative—it's incredibly diverse.
Social media has made it easier than ever to buy livestock.
Unfortunately, it's also made it easier than ever to buy livestock for the wrong reasons—and the wrong livestock for the right reasons.
A single photo can make us imagine an entire future.
We see the fluffy Highland calf and picture a breeding program.
We see the tiny cow and picture an agritourism business.
We see the adorable baby and picture future profits.
Sometimes those dreams become reality.
Sometimes they don't.
𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.
Before you start shopping, stop and ask yourself one question:
❓ What is my purpose?
Are you buying a pet?
Starting a breeding program?
Building an agritourism business?
Creating content for social media?
Or are you simply looking for pasture pets that make you smile every time you look out the window?
Because those answers should directly affect how you shop.
A lot of people see a fluffy Highland calf and immediately start imagining photoshoots, events, adorable babies, and future profits.
But can that animal actually do those things?
Not every cute animal is breeding quality.
Not every breeding-quality animal is profitable.
Not every profitable animal is social media worthy.
And not every social media star is a good business investment.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.
And this is where genetics start becoming important.
Not because genetics are trendy.
Not because everyone suddenly wants DNA tests.
But because genetics help predict what an animal may become.
Let's use Highlands and HighParks as an example.
Many of us entering the designer market naturally gravitate toward the fluffiest calf, the flashiest markings, the cutest face, or the one with the most hair.
I get it.
I did the same thing.
The problem is that a two-week-old bottle calf doesn't tell you very much about what that animal will become.
At two weeks old, most calves are cute.
Most calves are fluffy.
Most calves are still growing into themselves.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥.
That's why seeing the parents matters.
And simply having the parents' heights listed in the sales ad isn't enough.
It's hard to evaluate structure, disposition, mature hair coat, body condition, fertility, and overall quality from a baby calf alone.
The best glimpse into the future is often standing right behind the calf.
How are the parents built?
Are they calm and easy to handle?
Do they maintain condition easily?
Do they calve unassisted?
What does their mature hair actually look like?
Because while baby fluff is adorable, it's the mature animal that ultimately matters.
If your goal is breeding, the parents become even more important because that's where the genetics are coming from.
The sire and dam will influence everything from hair and color to structure, disposition, fertility, and overall performance.
But if your goal is agritourism, genetics still matter.
Calm cattle often come from calm cattle.
Easy-going animals often come from easy-going animals.
The traits that make an animal successful around guests, families, photographers, and children don't simply appear out of thin air.
Just like people, certain traits tend to run in families.
Disposition can run in families.
Structural issues can run in families.
Fertility can run in families.
Even how easily an animal maintains condition can have a genetic component.
The goal isn't to find perfect animals.
They don't exist.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭.
And that's where I think many of us get into trouble.
We fall in love with the animal first and ask questions later.
I know I did—and if I'm being honest, I still catch myself doing it sometimes.
The problem isn't that these animals are bad animals.
The problem is that an animal can be absolutely wonderful and still be the wrong fit for your goals.
That's the hidden cost nobody talks about when they're scrolling through photos of cute baby livestock.
Not the purchase price.
The years that follow.
The feed.
The fencing.
The veterinary bills.
The memories.
The attachment.
And ultimately, the difficult decisions that come when your goals evolve but your livestock inventory doesn't.
Even if you're buying a pet, these conversations still matter.
Temperament matters.
Disposition matters.
Handling history matters.
Especially when we're talking about cattle.
A friendly, well-handled cow can become a beloved family member.
A poorly handled animal with fear, aggression, or dangerous behaviors can become a serious liability.
And when horns are involved, those decisions can literally become life-or-death situations.
That's why asking questions isn't being difficult.
It's being responsible.
Whether you're buying a future breeding animal, a business asset, or simply a pasture pet, understanding the history behind the animal is one of the most valuable things you can do.
𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
And sometimes the most expensive animal isn't the one with the highest price tag.
𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.
🌾 And that's your Dirty Straw Report for this Monday. 🌾
Next week, let's talk about livestock sales.
Because sometimes the most important question isn't "What am I buying?"
It's "Why is it being sold?"
⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is intended for education and discussion only. Always consult your veterinarian and qualified professionals regarding livestock health, breeding, and management decisions. Do your own research and draw your own conclusions.
