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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:30 am
by Sylvia
This summer I will be arranging a major dispersal of most of my beloved animals from this farm These include Dexters, in calf and/or with calf at foot and dear Vatch Apollo; Shetland sheep with lambs at foot and 3 superb rams; Alpacas: males, females and youngsters. These are all good, registered, breeding animals in their prime. There will also be a number of friendly black angora kids and white angora kids plus adults which are not registered but which have the typical angora fleeces.
I hope if you are thinking of buying any additional animals this year you will condsider these. You will not be disappointed by either quality or price.
Further details will appear here when I have firmed up dates for viewing.
By the end of the summer I hope to be left with just a handful of old-timers and later on still the farm will be re-populated, by someone else, with commercial sheep and cows. His responsibility, his costs.
Yes, you are quite right, this is a wimpish decision, but I do not want to struggle on like this. My husband is non too well and the time has come to call it a day.
I hope there are people out there who will offer nice homes to these blameless animals. Please e-mail me direct if you are interested.
Sylvia
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:34 pm
by happy hollidays
Sylvia, you have had to make an extremely hard and emotional decision, nothing whimpish to it. I have nothing but respect for all the crap you have had to put up with. I hope the weight is lifting off your shoulders now. You will have the time and peace of mind to enjoy your remaining animals this summer, wishing you all the best for your sales, Estelle.
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:11 pm
by Sylvia
The weight will not be lifting from my shoulders, Estelle, until these animals are safely in new homes. With 191 viewings of this post and 2 replies (yours and one private, not a sales enquiry) I am currently not optimistic and wondering what the hell I do if no-one wants them. My current plans are TB test cows before they go out let them have a few weeks of good grass and sunshine!! and then offer them for sale. This will have to be completed within 60 days of the test. So probably before end of June. Ewes, who are being very slow this year, offered with lambs probably also by the end of June. Alpacas July -August. Goats also that sort of time.
Living in hope
Sylvia
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:46 pm
by redhill
Sylvia how much red tape are Alpacas tied up with,I would love one as a pet,I used to take the Dexters out for walks ,but TB is so rife in this area that,I wouldnt be able to take them off the holding, Sue, P.S.dont tell Bill, we started off with one Dexter house cow, we now have thirty and rising. Sue
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:48 am
by Sylvia
At present alpacas are relatively free of red tape, but there is a group dedicated to getting them under the Defra umbrella. They know not what they do. One point is that alpacas are herd animals and one as a pet isn't really an option. Two or 3, take one for a walk leave 2 behind works better. Having all lads would mean no increase on original numbers. Sadly, they can get TB but as long as they weren't in the same field or barn as cows during an out break it should be OK.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:37 pm
by redhill
Thanks for the info ,do alpacas have to be TB tested,we have the Severn Wye Llamma treking just down the road,and they seem to wander all over the Forest of Dean with no restrictions at all,or is this tourism versus agriculture, A glimmer of light on the horizon here,the Forest has a growing population of Wild boar and wild boar kill and eat badgers. Sue
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:26 pm
by Sylvia
Alpacas (and llamas) aren't TB tested in the same way as cattle are - by law. When we had the outbreak a few years ago they insisted on testing our few pet goats, made certain remarks about the possibility of testing the alpacas but it came to nothing.
Interesting that wild boar get rid of badgers, but can they become infected?
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:54 pm
by redhill
The wild boar here are a bit of a problem to the District Council and the Forestry commission, nobody seems to know if they can be infected or not ,as they are not bovine, they are also running around in ever decreasing circles trying to find a way of controlling the population explosion without upsetting the tourists, Sue
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:00 pm
by natmadaboutdexters
Are you selling your stock through an auctioneer or just via the website? I expect the reason some people have not shown interest maybe that they are waiting for more details of dates and details of Dexters for sale. I expect they will keep checking the site for more details, hence why you have had so many viewings. Just trying to put a more positive slant on things. Good luck and best wishes for your future plans.
natasha Lewis
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:06 pm
by Sylvia
I'll be selling privately if possible, Natalie, but at present a third of my problem (the relevant third to this site) may be sorted. I don't want to say more at present because there is the fingers crossed and hold your breath TB testing to get through. Once that is done I'll have more news.
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:17 am
by Inger
I do hope the Tb test goes smoothly. All the best.
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:43 pm
by Sylvia
Your good wishes paid off, the TB test is clear, so if the Blue Tongue area doesn't envelop us in the next ten days almost all my herd will be leaving. I'll be left with 2 cows with calves (one of these is already 'spoken for') so one unregistered cow and calf and a few steers which will go for meat over the next 2 years. Now only the sheep and alpacas to sort out.
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:10 pm
by Saffy
WELL DONE Sylvia!!!
Whilst it is in a way sad to hear of someone going out of Dexters, this is what you needed to do, so thank goodness for a clear TB.
Thank you also for the kind offer to come and see, I shall ask Chris if there is any way we can possibly fit it in and PM you if there is, to see if it suits you and of course where you are.
Stephanie