January 4th, Carmarthen Market.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:49 pm

Many thanks to everyone who has offered advice about the situation I find myself in.

The list of animals going to market is as follows:

Topic 1999 Dexter X Welsh Black in-calf with heifer calf Candy 05.07 at foot.
Aston Lady Connie 1999 Black N/S Dexter in calf.
Ruby 2001 Red N/S Dexter in calf with steer calf 04.07 at foot.
Jet 2001 Black Short Dexter with steer calf 06.07 at foot
Dusky 2001 Black N/S Dexter ? in calf
Fluff 2002 Black Short Dexter in calf
Fuzzy 2002 Black Short Dexter in calf with steer calf 02.07 at foot
Cherry 2002 Red Short Dexter in calf with heifer Laurel 05/07 at foot
Buffy 2004 Black Short Dexter in calf with steer calf 06/07 at foot
Sandy 2004 Red (slightly brindle) N/S Dexter with heifer Pebbles 06.07 at foot

Primrose, Gladys, Jewel and Fern (all 2005) in calf.

10 2006 heifers

5 2006 steers

All in-calf cows have been pd'd by my vet. All expected calves are from Vatch Apollo.

So if you fancy a day out come and see what happens. I'm sorry I don't know what time the Dexters will go to the ring. The Dexters are going down the night before so hopefully they won't be so stressed. 'Fraid I can't say the same about their owner.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:47 pm

All the best for your sale Sylvia. I do hope it goes well and you get a good price for them.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:28 pm

I know you don't know what time your cattle will go through but what time does the sale actually start Sylvia?

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:26 pm

I think it starts at 11am, Saffy, Carmarthen Livestock Tel.No. is 01267 236268.

Fluff managed to extricate herself from the sale today by producing a little bull calf 2 days after the vet suggested she was 6 months in calf. Trust me he was small but definitely not that premature. Sandy has managed to lose a secondary eartag so she and Pebbles her heifer calf wil be out if that doesn't arrive in time, ditto 2 heifers. If they carry on like this the numbers will have decreased dramatically by tomorrow afternoon.

Caroline Ryder · Post by **Caroline Ryder** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:05 am

Our very best wishes for the sale Sylvia

Peter thornton · Post by **Peter thornton** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:04 pm

Ref the "premature" calf:

I've learnt not to rely on the vets predictions! They have always been accurate as to whether or not the cow is pregnant but sometimes way out on the timing of the birth. Perhaps this is due to the size of Dexters?

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:51 pm

You are quite right Peter, the calf wasn't premature at all. I told the vet when he was here again today to treat an alpaca that his 6 month in calf cow calved yesterday and he said he didn't go by the size so much as whereabouts the calf was. But clearly that doesn't work wonderfully for Dexters either.

Anyway folks the 36 Dexters were loaded and taken to the mart this afternoon where they have been bedded down with hay in front of them and left to relax. Anyone want to bet that the transport, labour, straw and hay, £1 per head entrance and 3% of any sales will come to more than they will make?

I'll tell you tomorrow afternoon what happens.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:19 pm

Best wishes for a good sale.
I had a 'yeld' cow which produced only 2.5 months after the vet PD'd her!
Jo:D

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:22 pm

Thanks for all your good wishes. First report: all Dexters sold, averaging just over £100 each. I'll post figures for individual animals when I get the details. I know these are below private sales prices but it was not the terrible £20 -£30 which seemed to be threatening. I'm so relieved it is all over.

John C · Post by **John C** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:48 pm

Sylvia.
In the short time that I've known of you, you've had such a lot to put up with. Bad news after bad news, I'm sorry that it has come to this and I'm sure that everyone will join in with me when I say " All the best for the future and that things are on the up from here on in"

All the Best ! John C

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:20 pm

So glad to hear they all sold, even if not for fantastic prices. At least you have cut down your workload and feed costs. I hate selling through the ring and am always relieved when it's over. Even when I've sold badly I've never really regretted it afterwards, unlike the few times I have passed stock out of the ring and then wondered what on earth do I do with them next.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:26 pm

Glad it wasn't too bad. Well done Sylvia.

Anna · Post by **Anna** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:38 pm

I am sitting here in a cold and windy Sweden with a broken down heating system (we have a stove and it is well above 10 degrees Celsius inside the house, so that is no real problem) and my thoughts are with you Sylvia. Wish you an your remaining herd all the best!

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:36 pm

Sylvia,

I am sure there are many of us who have followed your nightmare year and wished we could be of help to you. Just wishing you now a quiet 2008 to enjoy your dexters again.
best wishes
Penny

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:43 am

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes and suggestions. I couldn't believe how absolutely drained I felt after the sale. Even the sight of my now nicely, sparsely occupied barn didn't exactly raise my spirits.

Two things that the sale did achieve: first, I had been toying with the idea of getting rid of all but one or two Dexters and trying just a few of a commercial breed but I really don't want hefty great cows which are taller than me - and the chap selling them only got half what he thought they were worth, ditto a massive great bull, second, having now bitten the bullet so to speak, I know where I can send stock if I have to to keep numbers under control.

Later this year I will advertise about half the remaining (Registered) Dexters and by next Christmas we should be down to a sensible number to serve the few loyal customers I do have.

Next on the list is the alpacas which will also be halved (somehow) and also the sheep. Wow, in 2009 we might even make a tiny profit on the farm and have enough time to do all the things which retired people should - Saga holiday anyone?