Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

Posted: **Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:05 pm**

Hi, just wondering if anybody can help me with the colour of newborn calves. I am quite new to Dexter’s; in fact we have just had our 6th calf born on our premises.
The latest two were born last week, the first a heifer calf, born to a red mum (the bull is black but has a lot of red in his background). The calf's colouring at the moment is a beautiful chocolate brown, paling under the chin and down her chest. The second, a bull calf, is by the same bull, again out of a red cow but is defiantly black. Will my little heifer calf turn black or might she turn out a dun? Help I need to register.

SueH

Posted: **Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:23 am**

Hi Sue,
if its feet and nose are other than pink (red) then it will be black. My whole herd has plenty of red in it and I had the same problem when I first started, you soon learn to tell the difference. If by any chance you do get it wrong, you can get the colour changed on any paperwork from the Society.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

Posted: **Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:59 pm**

Hi Martin

Thanks for your help, I think she will be black then. Shame really I was hoping for a dun!!

Sue

Posted: **Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:18 pm**

I think a good rule of thumb is - if you have to think about the colour it will be black. When red or dun calves turn up there is really no mistaking them.

Posted: **Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:29 pm**

I have been trying to post pictures of a cow at 4 months and at 3 yrs to show the colour difference, sadly keep getting it wrong.

Duncan

Edited By Duncan MacIntyre on 1208964734