Why Purchasing a Calf from JCA Highlands is More Than Just Buying a Calf
When you purchase a calf from JCA Highlands, you’re not just adding a Highland to your fold — you’re becoming part of our Highlands family.
We proudly sponsor your first year of membership in both the American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) and the Heartland Highland Cattle Association (HHCA) (unless you are already members). This is our way of supporting you as you begin or continue your Highland journey.
When our calves are weaned, each one is professionally cared for by our trusted veterinarian — they receive their vaccinations, are wormed, weighed, tattooed, and all required paperwork is completed, including health certificates for out-of-state transport.
All of our calves are DNA tested through AHCA for Parental Verification (PV, D) to ensure the integrity and transparency of our breeding program.
Before any calf leaves our farm, they are either halter trained or have had regular halter work to ensure they are accustomed to human handling. Each calf also receives a custom ear tag with their name on it. If we have not already named the calf, we invite you to choose their name so we can have their ear tag ready before they head to their new home.
At JCA Highlands, our motto is quality over quantity — we offer only a small number of carefully selected calves to the public each year. We are committed to providing not just a calf, but a lasting relationship. Our buyers receive our ongoing support and guidance, and we are always here to answer questions or help in any way. We also love receiving updates and photos of your calves as they grow!
You can view some of our previous calves by clicking here: [Previous Calves].
Our Ethical Commitment
We do not remove calves from their dams to create bottle babies. We strongly believe this practice is unnecessary and unethical — unless there is a medical emergency or loss of the dam. Sadly, this is a common practice among breeders of so-called “mini” Highlands. Our calves remain with their mothers for a minimum of six months, ensuring they grow healthy, strong, and well-socialized.
Purchase & Contract Details
We use a purchase contract for every calf sold, and a 35% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a calf.
In addition, we have tested all of our cows and bulls for the Myostatin NT-821 deletion gene, further ensuring the genetic quality and health of our fold.