An Introduction to Noble Bear’s Dams

(Click photo for AHCA genealogy.)

Sionnach of Legacy (#56152) also known as "Big Mama"-- earned her name by being the gold standard in breed-back quality. The calmest of all our brood cows, Sionnach passes on her easy-going, patient, observant personality to healthy calves every twelve months or less like clockwork. Her calves also tend to inherit her heritage features, such as phenomenal length and depth, long dosan, great feet, broad shoulders, and excellent muscularity. Her January 2023 bull calf, Noble Bear's Morpheus, won Reserve Grand Champion Junior Bull at the 2023 Southeast Highland Show and Auction, selling as the second most expensive bull at auction for this outstanding combination of conformation and hug-ability. Her January 2024 bull calf, Noble Bear's Melchior, sold as the most expensive bull at the 2024 Southeast Highland Show and Auction for all the same reasons. In addition to being a coveted Legacy cow, Sionnach's genetics are three generations or less removed from Scotland. Her lineage also includes notable names Locustbrae, Dunvegan, Ridge Top, Who's Hill, Gilchrist, and Sunset.

HM Abby Y19 (#60382) is our equivalent to Black Beauty. As tall as she is broad and proud, Abby commands respect with her presence, even if she doesn't mind sharing lead cow privileges with her best friend, Sionnach, and our silver cow, Isobel. She is unshakeable, nearly impossible to startle, disturb, or upset, and she readily cooperates without the need to be led by a halter or rope. Abby's shiny, black coat stays long year round, which is a trait she's passed on to both of her calves. Her calves also inherited her cool but sweet demeanor, height, depth, and stoutness. She easily breeds right back and is the most productive milk producer on site. Abby's genetics are only two generations removed from the UK, as well as diversely packed with respected lines from Apple Hill, CBS, Summit Ranch, LEA, Pitcher Mt., Shat Acres, Osceola, GOF, Kiyiwana, and Trafalgar.

FTA Isobel Cabela (#60424) is a sweet, stout, silver beauty with a proud personality. Docile on a halter, approachable in the pasture, and a fan of the brush, she certainly doesn't mind a little respectful adoration. She is a very attentive mother, however, who will politely but firmly secure her calf. She passes on good height, superb muscularity, and a full coat alongside an affectionate demeanor. Isobel is only two generations removed from the UK. Notable names in her genetics include GOF, Dunvegan, Who's Hill, Argyll, Skye High, LEA, Ridge Top, Sunset, and Cobblestones.

WDYR Autumn (#62541) is a warm and spicy, cinnamon-red who is, without a doubt, our diamond in the rough. Coming to us with horns broken from playing hard as a calf, it was easy to look beyond the cosmetics of her horns to see her fantastic, wavy coat, excellent depth, strong breadth, and beautiful feet. While not the lead cow, she is definitely the sentinel, remaining alert and watchful without being restless or ill-tempered. She is also every calf's favorite aunt, as she happily babysits any calf in the herd alongside her own. Autumn easily calved our biggest, most beautiful bull calf born on site-- NB Black Watch Memphis-- as her first calf in September 2023, and her genetic contributions were obvious. Memphis maintains the same long, wavy coat, perfect feet, board-straight back, and alert disposition while being easy to handle and hug. Her 2024 bull calf out of Sweetbrier Epic Lad, Sir Mikha'el, is very quickly following in Memphis' footsteps. Autumns genetics are a who's who list of notable individual animals, such as Black Watch Dempsey and Jock of Glengorm…and the first cow ever to be registered in a Highland herd book, Blue Hill. Even more astonishing is the fact that there isn't a single repeat in her lineage, meaning every cow appears only once at any point. Combined with respected lines such as Black Watch, Flathead, Ridge Top, LEA, Gilchrist, GOF, and Shat Acres, this cow manages to consolidate powerhouse genetics into every calf she produces.

SRH Juniper (#60888) with her magnetic blue eyes is a lovely, balanced red cow we could watch in the pasture forever. Her long, flowing coat is somehow always smooth and adds to the effect of an even gait that looks like running water. Arguably one of our gentlest dams, Juniper will wait patiently for a snack but pursue a brush without ever imposing. Her quietness and ease is a trait she passes to her calves with the same impossibly good hair, straight back, great feet, and pretty walk. Juniper's genetics are among our most interesting in that they include quite a few unique lines balanced with good foundational lines like Trafalgar, Sunset, EZ Acres, and WY.

CKD Primrose (#63822) is our most affectionate, friendly, hug-able heifer. Just like her dam, JTM Chase's Scarlet (also known as "The Walmart Greeter"), Prim likes to be where the people are, keeping us company during farm chores or projects. She has an easy-going demeanor, uncommonly cool in all circumstances except for playing tag with the Anatolian Shepherds that work ranch security. She is a black tank, displaying heritage traits in her breadth and thickness, with red highlights in her tail like a torch. Prim maintains a long coat and dosan, which she appreciates having brushed in between copious treats. Her first calf, sired by Sweetbrier Epic Lad, is due January 2025. Primrose consolidates the best of Skye High (including Cornerstone and Vermillion) with JTM, LEA, Sunset, Black Watch, Gilchrist (running back specifically to Jock of Glengorm and then on to the UK), DH, GOF, and Misty Morn.

Scotch Valley Cherry Lu (#63413) is "the broad side of the barn" walking. This shy but sweet brindle could not be any more square in all directions if she tried. Board-straight across the back, her shoulder and hind-end are broad and perfectly balanced. Cherry Lu has excellent depth and some of the thickest, prettiest horns we've ever seen come in on a heifer. Her coat and dosan stay long, displaying her brindling. While she isn't the first in line for the brush or attention, she is gentle and likes to be where everyone else is, especially if treats are involved. Despite her large size, Cherry Lu is content to let others lead so that she can follow. Her first calf out of Sweetbrier Epic Lad, Lady Nannette, is very nearly a copy-and-paste of this outstanding dam. The genetics for Cherry Lu could be summed up as the best of Shat Acres (including renowned Cinnamon Bear) and Apple Hill, although Who's Hill, Owl Rock, Misty Morn, and Ridge Top are also present.

The first product of our breeding program, Lady Lyanna of Noble Bear (#64303) is one of our pride-and-joys. She's an absolute brickhouse-- solid, broad, and deep. She inherited tight curls and a chocolate brown coat from her sire, EH Black Watch Journey, as well as the same massive head shape Journey inherited from his sire, BR Voodoo Magic. Lyanna's genetics reach the UK in four generations. Her lineage also includes Big Ridge, Vintage Hill, Skye High, Apple Hill, GOF, Pitcher Mt., LEA, Schon Boden, Black Watch, DH, Who's Hill, and Trafalgar.

Bee's Beauty of New River (#67070) is our fluffy sweet pea. Mild-mannered and snack-motivated, this thick, golden girl is quiet other than the occasional frolic and tag with the Anatolian Shepherds. Bee's long, wavy coat and dosan are second only to her half-sister, Izzy, who is also on site and growing out with the same heritage features. Bee's genetics reach the United Kingdom in three generations. Her lineage also includes Trafalgar, Sunset, Osceola, Shat Acres, DH, Who's Hill, Cobblestones, EZ Acres, Pitcher Mt., GOF, and LEA.

Izzy of New River (#67072)-- also known as "Meatyball"-- earned her nickname due to the thickness with which she is growing out in all directions. Beautifully square, Izzy's stout frame is covered with a coat of torrents of golden waves. Her dosan is so long that we aren't sure how she can see; nonetheless, she always finds her way over for a snack and a hug. She is tracking to be one of our bigger future dams with lovely heritage qualities, and she should be turned out for exposure in Spring 2025. Izzy's genetics reach the United Kingdom in three generations. Her lineage also includes Flathead, LEA, Osceola, DH, GOF, Sunset, Gilchrist, Pitcher Mt., and Trafalgar.

Lady Novena Of Noble Bear (#67419) is another homegrown gem from our breeding program. From the moment she hit the ground, she has been her dam, HM Abby Y19, made over in a long, red coat. Novena has Abby's balance of outstanding height and breadth with already impressive depth and muscularity. Better still, she inherited the good feet and quick maturity of the Big Ridge line through her sire, EH Black Watch Journey, whose sire was BR Voodoo Magic. With more than a year to go until exposure, we are excited to see so much promise this early. Novena's genetics reach the UK in four generations. Her lineage also includes  Vintage Hill, Big Ridge, GOF, CBS, Apple Hill, LEA, Pitcher Mt., Shat Acres, Kiyiwana, Trafalgar, and Black Watch.

Big Ridge Callie (#54244) had a home here before we even had an opportunity to acquire her. Her son, EH Black Watch Journey, was one of our first herdsires, producing phenomenal calves before his second birthday. From Journey, we have kept two heifers-- Lady Lyanna and Lady Novena-- for their exceptional length, depth, straightness, and balance. Naturally, all of these good qualities exist in Callie, causing us to be fans from a distance. When she became available, she was one of the easiest decisions we've ever made. Her unique, curly (or frizzy, depending on the humidity) hair texture is an added bonus that we were delighted to see in Lyanna and can't wait to see again in her future calves. Callie has beautiful Vintage Hill genetics that touch the UK in two generations, as well as fan-favorite bulls Scott of Craycombe and Jock 28th of Leys. Also present in her lines are Dunvegan, Kiyiwana, GOF, and Summit Ranch, all of which derive from imported genetics.

QSH Barbie Girl (#68778)-- lovingly nicknamed "Babs" for her sassy, quirky attitude-- is a font of entertainment. Endlessly curious but never pushy, Babs follows us through the pasture to see what we're doing and whether we've brought anything interesting for her. Despite being unbelievably broad, straight, and stout for her age, this fluffy, white hooligan can get happy-cow zoomies with the best of our nimble heifers. Judging by the most impressive heritage qualities present in her dam, we can already tell she'll inject the best classic Highland traits into all her future calves. Babs' genetics touch the United Kingdom in three generations, with a generous portion of import lineage in every successive generation. Her lineage also includes programs such as Spring Flight, STR, Trafalgar, EZ Acres, Schon Boden, Sunset, LEA, Cobblestones, Skye High, GOF, Flathead, Ridge Top, Twinflower, and Owl Rock.

High Life Clementine (#68193) is golden sunshine on a cloudy day. We have never seen a sweeter face on a heifer than little Clem's. She is extremely feminine in her qualities and in her demeanor-- sweet and cooperative, but just a little shy. Clementine is perfectly straight with good feet and a graceful walk, as well as balanced in breadth and depth. Although it'll be a bit of a wait, we just know her calves are going to be mind-meltingly cute. Clem's genetics are an outstanding combination of East and West Coast with Canadian programs, including Willow Glen, Tatlayoko, Highland Spice, Sweetbrier, Flathead, LEA, CBS, Summit Ranch, Kiyiwana, Osceola, GOF, Keijoasan, and DH. Her lines also touch the United Kingdom in four generations.

Our first Sweetbrier Epic Lad darling, Lady Nanette of Noble Bear (#69171) absolutely owned us from the second she hit the ground. Built like her mother, Scotch Valley Cherry Lu, little Nan is also like the broad side of a barn. She is the thickest, straightest, most formidable heifer calf born here to date, which is saying quite a bit considering the heritage qualities for which we aim. Nan can best be described as proud in that she commands the space she's in without being pushy or testy, and she carries herself like a matriarch despite not even having been weaned. While every calf out of Epic Lad is phenomenal, there's something tremendous about this little sass-bucket. Nan's genetics are the holy grail combination for big, thick, wooly cows: Sweetbrier and Sunset meets Shat Acres and Apple Hill. Also present are DH, Misty Morn, Owl Rock, Ridge Top, Osceola, Who's Hill, GOF, and Gilchrist.

Scotch Valley Penelope (#67873) joins her half-sister, Cherry Lu, and is probably the only way to improve on what was already a great product. Like Cherry Lu, Penelope is already growing out with excellent height, width, and depth, looking very sturdy through the shoulders and hind-end. Her back is perfectly straight, and her overall balance is beautiful. She is curious without being a hooligan and a big fan of snacks. Penelope will likely be exposed in late 2025. Penelope's genetics are a beautiful mix of Shat Acres (to include renowned Cinnamon Bear), Who's Hill, Apple Hill, Osceola, Owl Rock, DH, Ridge Top, GOF, and Misty Morn.