Hi all
I don't know whether anyone has really old ladies but I thought I would post you the calving record for Beeches Della 11th. I see this Della line popping up now and agin on the for sale board and guess it is the same lines. What a grand cow she is, quiet and easy to handle with big beefy steers and good healthy daughters. She is on the big side of acceptable for a Dexter but this is good from my point of view as the steers have plenty of beef in them. maybe some of you with the Dellas would like to post.
Beeches Della 11th
DOB 24/06/1991
Bought at York in 1994 with calf at foot and in calf
Calving record
Number/ name YEAR sex colour short SIRE
1 1993 F B
2 07/05/94 M B
3 10/05/95 M Still born
Raised a Limousin steer
4 Della 05/05/96 F R
Weardale Didiscus
5 Della 2nd 16/05/97 F B Weardale Didiscus
6 05/06/98 M B short
Dalmuir Cyclone
7 Della 3rd 06/06/99 F R Seamer Supreme Caesar
8 20/06/00 M B
Nettle Robert
9 06/06/01 M B
Aiskew Lucky Jim
10 06/06/02 M B
Seamer Supreme Ricard
11 Della 5th 14/07/03 F B Zanfara Quince
12 Della 6th 24/05/04 F B Zanfara Quince
13 Della 7th 20/07/05 F R Zanfara Versailles
14 31/07/06 M B
Sollershope Ripley
15 Della 8th 21/08/07 F B
Sollershope Ripley
I'm very interested in longevity. There's a photo of Parndon Greenfinch, aged 30, in the Aug 1995 bulletin. Does anyone know of any cows that have reached similarly advanced ages? Several of the Vycannys reached their 20's and regularly attained late teens.
Despite the increasingly widespread belief that shortlegs don't last because they get crippled with arthritis at about 10, both Greenfinch and Vycannys were all short legged.
As one who has often pointed out the unfortunate fact that the bulldog gene will often leave an animal liable to early arthritis, I would point out that it is because of the longevity of the breed as a whole I feel I is a shame to leave them open to the penalty. Of course there will be happy exceptions and I think Della’s record is an excellent advertisement for the breed. However, when I kept the short leg I had to cull one or two every year at about eight or nine, and I know my experience is not exceptional. It is not surprising that a deficiency in the bone construction causes problems in time, in many of them.
Have you got the pedigree record for Seamer Supreme Richard. I still have Seamer Supreme Sultan who i am sure must be related and still serving 30 cows at the age of 13 , producing excellent calves and is as fit as any bull I have seen.
p.s. the kids can still use him as a table when having a picnic in the fields! - no grumpy old man attitude about him!!
It is not the age they are able to reach but the age at which they are still able to regularly breed that really matters. Even if they have lost a quarter or are a bit gimpy in their extreme old age if they were once a good shape but are still able to produce a tidy calf and rear it well they are doing OK.
Perhaps someone can send us a picture of their golden oldie? :D
Yes, I'd like to see some photos of oldies, particularly short, sound oldies. I've got a few shorties who are well into their 8th year and are still striding out freely and breeding well and regularly. They certainly don't look as if they are past it. Our bull is 9. He is non short and, my goodness, he is really proving himself as an easy calving bull. He is a big lad but his calves are just slipping out a treat from all sizes of heifers or cows. I'd be delighted to have him around for as long as possible.
Our golden oldie bull took pride of place last year on the Dexter Bullitin for i think it was September - the photo was recently taken and I recon that he looks fitter now than then!
Great idea
Get the cameras out add a few words and send to the office and get them in a future bulletin. My Newtonjohn Ivy at 15 with calf at foot has obviously got a few more years to go.
All the best
Ted
