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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:44 pm
by John C
I've been there today and there were to this inexperienced eye some nice dexters exhibited. I may be wrong but I don't think there were any 'non short' exhibits there. Would this be typical of most major shows ?
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:08 pm
by ann
Hi John, it seems that way, until we can persuade owners of nice non shorts to show, it will stay that way to, in theory if everyone with short legged cattle had them tested for the bull dog gene and then tried to use a medium size clear bull, we might eventually end up with a more even, sound medium legged Dexter, but pigs may fly before that happens.
I do try and do a couple of shows with non shorts a year and do win occasionally, but you do have to have a good one to get any where, and unfortunately the short legged dexters look so much more mature in the younger classes, and many of the judges because they show the short cattle themselves are in theory most probably going to place what they promote.
Most of the people who prefer the non shorts, don’t seem to be interested in showing, or maybe they realize that they probably won’t get place very high and showing is a lot of work, and most people like to have an even playing field when they compete and with respect, this is not really the case with dexters as the two types are quite different.
In most other breeds the bigger the better is the norm, however when it comes to bulls being shown you do have a better chance when you bull matures as the non shorts usually are much sounder and as the bulls mature, this becomes more obvious.
If you want to see some lovely non short dexters in the show ring, go to a show in Oz, as the situation is the complete reverse over there.
I will now retire behind my flame proof vest. :p :p
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:12 am
by John C
Thanks for the explanation Ann. I was beginning to think that one wouldn't be forthcoming .
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:24 pm
by dai
you're absolutely right that there was a good show of cattle at the RWAS this year- literally every animal shown was genuinely at the upper quality end of the breed. The show was also very well organised, given the sheer size of the show, and it really deserves to take over the prestege of the RASE show. I for one won't be taking stock to the Royal again and will concentrate on the RWAS - the standards of organisation in almost all respects are better at the RWAS, and given as the royal has no bull classes perhaps the royal welsh will take over in the next few years.
Incidentally, there were a few non-shorts at the show. I took a non-short yearling bull, and there were a couple of females who had legs of a proportionate length to their body size.
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:09 pm
by Mark Bowles
Who and what animals were champ and reserve at the Welsh? We showed at the Royal this year for the 3rd year on the trot, it doesnt get better, i think the owners (Haymarket Land i think) seem to be penny pinching,certainly the stockmen arent spoilt.
Mark
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:32 pm
by dai
Sup and Fem was Higher Keaten Ruby (dry cow) from T. Drew, Res Sup and Res Fem was Mostyn Beauty from Mrs P.M. Eagling (heifer), Male was Moomin Macduff (senior bull) from A.A. and K.M. Reed and Res Male was HollyBush Hector (yearling bull) from Rev and Mrs S.J. Bowkett.
The only real problems with the RWAS are 1. excessive alcohol consumption, but this gets better every year, and 2. poor ventilation in the cattle sheds, but the society are dealing with this and plan to build a completely new cattle shed in the next couple of years. The RWAS actually do take on board what stockman say and deal with any problems you have - for example, last year some sheep were too badly ventilated on the balcony of the second sheep shed, so this year they were moved and space found for them in another ground floor shed.
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 5:58 pm
by John C
I've been to The Royal and the Royal Welsh and the Welsh knocks the Royal into a top hat.
Its much easier to get to for me obviously, the only thing that I have against it is that its always boiling whenever I go .
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:10 pm
by Chris Downward
The Royal Welsh is what the the royal used to be. the Welsh is probably the last "big" truly agricultural show left. The downside is that whenever I go to the Royal Welsh it's always boiling hot!!!!!
Chris