Milking Dexters

[Saffy]

Beryl did send a few Woodmagic cattle to Ireland and they should have some descendants that milk well but I think they are in Northern Ireland.

Stephanie

[Saffy]

Oh and by the way Larry,

You should really think about opening a B+B as well because when you get these Dexters milking, do you realise how many of us are going to want to come and look! :laugh:

Stephanie

[LarryMag]

Hi Stephanie

Well you are a good one, how did you know we had that one in hand as well. :D

Larry

[Rob R]

If dexter milk is average 4% butterfat, that is moderate at best. If Holstein is low, at around 3%, shorthorns are around 3.5% and ayrshire described as moderate around 3.9% then dexter is still woefully behind channel island breeds at regularly 5%+!

It's not just level either, but the ease of getting to it - with the natural homogenisation too it all adds up to a product that people just aren't able to taste is any different to 'normal' milk and a struggle to get your higher-value cream for cream, butter and ice cream etc etc sales and then add that to a low overall volume and it just looks worse. Comparing old herd records to see if a dairy enterprise is viable today is a complete nonsense - there's a reason they are talked about I the past tense, and that dexters are barely used for dairy today, and I would hazard a guess that any 'commercial' dexter dairies have at least one other income too!

Sure, they could be 'bred up' - but with cattle this is a long, long process and if you're in dairy your margins are hellish tight and you're going to need massive capital outlay too, so you don't have the luxury of time for years of getting a dexter with viable yield, higher BF and bigger fat globules.

I'm not talking the breed down, obviously they are our main enterprise for a reason, we wouldn't have 60 of the things and rely on them fora living if they were rubbish - but they have clear talents and in our experience (which in dairy is extensive) for a micro dairy and even home dairy production there are breeds much better placed to exploit that niche.

[LarryMag]

Hi guys,

I have been waiting to do this post for quite some time. Things have progressed a little in North County Galway, we have today recieved confirmation that all required tests are passed and that the movement papers of our first three PB and registered cows (with 3 heifer calfs at foot) are in place.

So great excitement at this end here while we arrange for their arrival to us. Hopefully over the week end.

If all goes well I will try and post a few pics when they get here.

Larry

[Saffy]

Excellent news!

[LarryMag]

Well the girls arrived this eveing to great exictement in Gurteen.

I have posted some (very ppor) pics here

http://s1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... een002.jpg

The chap who collected/delivered the girls thought we were stom=ne mad opening a bottle of champagne in the middle of a field in the rain getting eaten alive by clouds of midges, maybe we should be locked up

So now it's settleing in and bonding over the next few weeks. If I can get a few better pics I will post them up.

So now let the fun begin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Larry

[Saffy]

Well done - how very exciting for you and thanks for the beautiful pictures.

Stephanie

[Mark Bowles]

Well done Larry, keep us in touch with your progress. I am very jealous of your very green grass!

[LarryMag]

Hi Guys
All is well here at the moment. The girls are settleing in nicely and getting used to us. Petal (the Black one) lets you briefly milk her in the field ( we were both shocked and delighted), a great start. The other two Clover and Ash are not quite so cooperative, but give it time.

Both Petal and Clover have "Woodmagic" in their pedigree especially Clover. Looking foward to getting the parlour, Crush and pole haybarn up, over the next couple of weeks. Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark, thanks for the commplements on the green grass we had just taken 17 round bales of silage off that padock two weeks before, no manure amd no slurry. It's all the soft Irish rain and we have plenty of that!!!!!!!!

Regards

Larry