Large Dexter ?
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groubearfarm
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2004 1:52 pm
- Location: Tiverton Devon
I have a carrier bull which appears to throw larger calves than the non-carrier bull that I used last year. I say appears, because I have only had 2 calves from him as yet. I was using tested non-carrier heifers on him, in the mistaken belief that they would have smaller calves. The 2 calves weighed 27.8 and 30.2kgs.
The non-carrier bull's calves weighed 27.9, 28.2, 26.4, 24.4, 28.0, 31.8 and 22.2kgs.
The last weight belonging to my tallest cow, a Grade 1. As the calf was a heifer, I'm feeling that this cow should now be destined for the freezer. Especially since her last year's effort resulted in a premature bull calf of 21.5 inches high and 13 kg in weight. It was hard work getting him up and going. I don't think this cow is suited to our rugged farmland. She's obviously using up more energy keeping herself going than putting it into her unborn calf.
So leaving out the lowest weight, the average weight of the non-carrier bull's calves is 27.78kg. The average weight of the carrier's calves is 29kgs. I will be recording the weights of the calves at 60 days, 6mths, 12mths and 24 months. (Maybe not the 24mth ones for the heifers as they will likely be in calf).
The first 60 day weight of the 27.8kg calf (carrier Sire) is 82.5kg. I can let you know what the others turn out to be, if you're interested. :D
The reason I'm keeping these records is because our Society would like cold hard data to give to the farming groups in NZ about how well suited Dexters are to producing beef on low quality land and that they make suitable terminal sires for heifer beef cows. Its a hard sell, but until they have a few facts to fight their case with, the commercial farming groups will stick to their anecdotal idea that small animals can't be of any use in serious beef production. So most won't even entertain the idea. I guess even with the data, it will still take some time. But we're giving it a go.
The non-carrier bull's calves weighed 27.9, 28.2, 26.4, 24.4, 28.0, 31.8 and 22.2kgs.
The last weight belonging to my tallest cow, a Grade 1. As the calf was a heifer, I'm feeling that this cow should now be destined for the freezer. Especially since her last year's effort resulted in a premature bull calf of 21.5 inches high and 13 kg in weight. It was hard work getting him up and going. I don't think this cow is suited to our rugged farmland. She's obviously using up more energy keeping herself going than putting it into her unborn calf.
So leaving out the lowest weight, the average weight of the non-carrier bull's calves is 27.78kg. The average weight of the carrier's calves is 29kgs. I will be recording the weights of the calves at 60 days, 6mths, 12mths and 24 months. (Maybe not the 24mth ones for the heifers as they will likely be in calf).
The first 60 day weight of the 27.8kg calf (carrier Sire) is 82.5kg. I can let you know what the others turn out to be, if you're interested. :D
The reason I'm keeping these records is because our Society would like cold hard data to give to the farming groups in NZ about how well suited Dexters are to producing beef on low quality land and that they make suitable terminal sires for heifer beef cows. Its a hard sell, but until they have a few facts to fight their case with, the commercial farming groups will stick to their anecdotal idea that small animals can't be of any use in serious beef production. So most won't even entertain the idea. I guess even with the data, it will still take some time. But we're giving it a go.
Inger
NZ
NZ
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Kathy Millar
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2004 4:53 pm
- Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada