Twin Oaks Elk Farm

Twin Oaks Elk Farm Founded in 1996, our family farm raises quality elk in central Iowa. Built on Tradition. Driven by Genetics. 🦌

Operated by a father-daughter team, we focus on strong genetics, trophy bulls, breeding stock, and educating others about the elk industry.

Rip chilling with the kids in the rock box this afternoon! We definitely just added another toddler to the mix with him!
07/17/2026

Rip chilling with the kids in the rock box this afternoon! We definitely just added another toddler to the mix with him!

07/10/2026

Junie is obsessed with little rip! Rip has other thoughts about her! 😂
For those who are new… Junie is our bottle calf from last year. Rip is our bottle calf this year.

Calving update: we are down to our last cow to calve! Picture is “JellyBean” a 2 year old bull out of a Hector daughter,...
07/02/2026

Calving update: we are down to our last cow to calve!

Picture is “JellyBean” a 2 year old bull out of a Hector daughter, sired by CoolBeans

Velvet season is one of our favorite times of the year. These bulls are growing fast, and we’re excited to see how they ...
06/26/2026

Velvet season is one of our favorite times of the year. These bulls are growing fast, and we’re excited to see how they finish out this season!

So glad we can be helpful to other elk ranchers! ❤️
06/24/2026

So glad we can be helpful to other elk ranchers! ❤️

Bottle Baby Tip! 🍼Having trouble getting a calf to take a bottle? Don’t give up! Some calves simply prefer to drink from...
06/23/2026

Bottle Baby Tip! 🍼

Having trouble getting a calf to take a bottle? Don’t give up! Some calves simply prefer to drink from a bucket or shallow pan. Offering milk in a pan can be a great way to encourage stubborn babies to eat and keep them hydrated.

Every calf is different, sometimes you just have to find what works for them! ❤️

💡 Have a bottle baby tip that’s worked for you? Share it below!

06/19/2026

Little update on Rip! He’s doing AMAZING! He turns a week old today! He weighed just under 50 # as of last night! He is eating a ton! We have never had a calf with an appetite like his. He’s going to be a BIG boy!

Since a ton of ranchers have been messaging me about bottle babies lately, I figured it would be easiest to just make a ...
06/18/2026

Since a ton of ranchers have been messaging me about bottle babies lately, I figured it would be easiest to just make a post with the exact products, gear, and routines we’ve had the best results with over the years.

First things first. NO to cattle colostrum for elk calves! It’s WAY too fatty for them, and you’ll end up with major issues down the road. Stick to multi species options instead.

Here is our go to setup:
Formula & Supplements -
The Best Milk Replacer: We swear by Purina Multi-Species Milk Replacer. The elk do amazing on it. We have a 6 day old calf on it right now who is doing great, and Junie was raised on it last year.
Colostrum: For the first 3 days, we use the Producer's Pride Multi Species Colostrum Gel (the paste) along with a multi species colostrum powder supplement. After 3 days, we transition them fully to formula.

Bottles & Gear -
The Bottle: Honestly, we just use a $1 spray bottle from Dollar General because it has the ounces marked right on the side. Since they’re so cheap, it’s super easy to buy one for each calf if you have multiple to keep things completely sanitary.
The Ni***es: Pair that bottle with the Little Giant Soda Bottle Lamb Ni***es (the black 3-pack from Bomgaars). They fit perfectly, we just cut a small hole in the top for a faster flow.
Tubing: If you ever absolutely have to tube one, do NOT use a cattle tube. It's way too big for their esophagus. Use a goat/sheep tube instead.

Feeding Schedule & Routine -
We feed 5 times a day: 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, and 10pm.
Crucial step:Keep a pack of baby wipes handy. You have to manually stimulate them until they p**p after eating, and keep doing it until they are p**ping completely on their own.

If you're dealing with a pulled calf or a stubborn mama right now and have any questions, just let me know! More than happy to help.

What a weekend so far! Friday night we had to assist a mama with a HUGE breech, sideways bull calf, and tonight we took ...
06/14/2026

What a weekend so far! Friday night we had to assist a mama with a HUGE breech, sideways bull calf, and tonight we took on this little bottle bull calf after he was abandoned.

(The bottle calf is a different one, and mama we had to help is our number ONE cow in the farm.)

This little guy was abandoned by his mom, but he’s already proving he’s got plenty of grit and attitude. 💪🦌

We’re looking for name suggestions! Around here we usually lean toward western, ranch-style names, but we’re open to anything that fits this tough little bull.

Last years bottle calf was Junie aka June Bug! (We have had a Johnny already)

Drop your best ideas in the comments! 👇

(Extra points for names that are rugged, western, badass, or elk-worthy! 🤠)

Address

1975 Grant Avenue
Guthrie Center, IA
50115

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