Whispering Hills Farm (WHF) has a strong desire to not only maintain Heritage Shorthorn genetics but to expand their reach in the cattle industry and to provide unique heritage genetics to other Heritage Shorthorn breeders utilizing our cow-friendly, totally hormone free IVF program. No hormones are used in either the production of our embryos or their eventual implantation. This a revolutionary concept but we believe it is the right thing to do. We use our own cows as recipients so that we can maintain our strict health standards and provide positive fetal programing for the developing calf.

As more information becomes available on the effects of fetal programming it has become increasing clear that the quality of the recipient cow can have a tremendous impact on the embryo she is carrying even though she is the “foster dam”. Since we use our own cows as recipients we know they are calm, excellent milking, and feed efficient. All qualities that the recipient cow may transmit to the developing calf because she has the ability to turn on specific positive genes in the calf that will cause these genes to be active in the calf. The days of using poorly selected cheap recipient cows are over if a breeder is trying to maximize positive qualities in the developing calf.

We have produced IVF embryos from almost 20 old Heritage Shorthorn bulls over the last several years. Many Heritage Shorthorn breeders have purchased embryos from us resulting in a wide variety of new Heritage Shorthorn genetics across America. Our own herd has been enhanced by the addition of several IVF heifers sired by bulls such as Pleasant Dawn Seal 2nd, Kinnaber Leader 9th, and Albo. We have concluded our production and sale of IVF embryos for now though. Our focus is to utilize our diverse IVF embryo inventory to produce quality heifers and bulls that will continue to enhance the genetic base of Heritage Shorthorns and improve the whole Shorthorn breed.