In the early days, when I was trying to encourage the use of a non-carrier bull, I used to explain it by saying it meant exchanging the potential bulldog for a live long leg. Either way the carrier calves remain at 50%. The vagaries of breeding means it can take a long time for the averages to work out!
Beryl (Woodmagic)
re registering within 30 days
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AlisonKirk
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:16 pm
I think a lot of the problems with getting a variety of Dexter types comes from owners having animals from different herds -Rob and I can prove this.....our herd is well established and apart from when we got going in 1990, the last heifers we bought in were from Jay Hunt in 1996 & 1997. We've been very careful with bull selection (using short & non-short) and have a balanced herd.
With all the regulations in force (now in a 12 month TB area, with our own first TB breakdown in 20 years & by the end of June in the BT PZ), we have changed our policy from selling quality heifers to using them for beef.
All heifers are still registered (on-line for £10) and we are then able to pick out the very best for our own replacements or, in the future, possibly sell one or two for breeding.
I appreciate that the different ways Dexters are farmed our management system would not suit everyone and impossible in the short term - it's taken us a long time and much effort.
Dexter owners need to decide which way they're going with the breed and the stock / slaughter facilities, etc, they have available to them, make a decision and work damned hard to move forward. Slaughter heifers if you've got to....the beef is wanted out there. Livestock farming is a 'minefield' - we've changed our plans completely from 10 years ago and again in 2007, but if we did not move forward we would not be able to continue.
Personally, I can't see a problem with 30 day registration limit for heifers, it gets it out the way...we're so busy we'd probably forget if the age limit was raised.
My views above I hope will put some reasoning behind the questions on this topic. There are many diverse views re management of Dexter cattle and I don't think we will ever all be singing from the same hymn sheet. Breeders need to have a system which suits their particular needs and also location re travelling to / from abattoirs. What works for one breeder may not suit another and there's nothing wrong with that.
Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters
With all the regulations in force (now in a 12 month TB area, with our own first TB breakdown in 20 years & by the end of June in the BT PZ), we have changed our policy from selling quality heifers to using them for beef.
All heifers are still registered (on-line for £10) and we are then able to pick out the very best for our own replacements or, in the future, possibly sell one or two for breeding.
I appreciate that the different ways Dexters are farmed our management system would not suit everyone and impossible in the short term - it's taken us a long time and much effort.
Dexter owners need to decide which way they're going with the breed and the stock / slaughter facilities, etc, they have available to them, make a decision and work damned hard to move forward. Slaughter heifers if you've got to....the beef is wanted out there. Livestock farming is a 'minefield' - we've changed our plans completely from 10 years ago and again in 2007, but if we did not move forward we would not be able to continue.
Personally, I can't see a problem with 30 day registration limit for heifers, it gets it out the way...we're so busy we'd probably forget if the age limit was raised.
My views above I hope will put some reasoning behind the questions on this topic. There are many diverse views re management of Dexter cattle and I don't think we will ever all be singing from the same hymn sheet. Breeders need to have a system which suits their particular needs and also location re travelling to / from abattoirs. What works for one breeder may not suit another and there's nothing wrong with that.
Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters