selling older cows

[Inger]

Defra needs to get its facts straight. The old traditional breeds often calved well into their teens. If their feet and health is good, there's no sense in ending the life of a productive animal.

[Broomcroft]

Although I don't have any old cows (yet), oldest being 11 at the moment, I have noticed that the older ones, 9-11, who are a bit fat are very difficult to get in calf.

[Rutherford]

This can be a bit of a vicious circle, if they fail to conceive they will make use of the food to put on weight and
a fat cow is more difficult to get in calf. I seldom have an older cow that doesn’t calve regularly
Beryl (Woodmagic)

[Duncan MacIntyre]

DEFRA are not saying we cannot keep older cows. What they are saying is that the Older Cow Disposal Scheme will end on 31st December. This is to do with BSE, not any other age related things. It means in effect that you can keep your older cows as long as you like, but you may well have to pay to have the carcass taken away and disposal costs because they will never be allowec to enter the food chain. This only applies to cows born before I think June 1996, when ruminant feed regulations changed. Cattle born since the ban on ruminant protein in feed will be ok, they will revert to the old system that you can keep them till they are 30 if you like and eat them too.

In effect for many small herd owners, and maybe for some not so small, it will not make any difference since you would not have been sending them of to a collection centre for slaughter anyway.

Duncan

[Rutherford]

Until next year if I had an older cow, I could keep it until I felt it had had its life,
then have it put down on the place, and Defra would still collect it free, next year
it will probably cost me around £40 to have her disposed of.
Beryl (Woodmagic)