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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:31 pm
by Farrant
Hello everyone,
I just thought that I should let everyone know that there is an article on 'house cows' and Dexters in the Sunday Times today - page 7. The article isn't completely accurate, but certainly advertises the breed nicely!
Caroline
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 1:21 pm
by carole
thanks for that Caroline, for all those who do not take the times, like us.
Here is the link to the article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 547604.ece
Carole
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:46 pm
by Broomcroft
Quote from The Times "For between £200 and £2,000, people can buy a cow that stands no taller than a large German shepherd dog, gives 16 pints of milk a day that can be drunk unpasteurised, keeps the grass “mown” and will be a family pet for years before ending up in the freezer."
Yikes - I hope I never meet a German Shepherd dog from wherever the author lives :D
Edited By Broomcroft on 1218980817
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:57 pm
by Saffy
I did have a particularly huge German Shepherd a few years ago but no I haven't seen a Dexter anything like down to his size but good publicity all the same!
Also I can tell you from bitter experience that most probably ALL breeds of cow mow much more than the grass if they get into your garden and what they can't/won't eat they plop on. :D
Stephanie
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:26 pm
by Rutherford
Thanks Clive for the link, I was wondering how I might access it. While it is an undoubtedly a good advert for the breed, I am concerned. I have too frequently come across new owners who believe they can ‘live off a lawn’. There are unfortunately many town dwellers that know nothing about stockmanship. To write off the Dexter’s needs in this summary fashion may well prove dangerous. I hope anyone approaching the Society will be sensibly cautioned. It can be too easy to let our enthusiasm run away with us. In conversation with knowledgeable farming friends it is acceptable, but to advise town dwellers in that way may result in a Dexter’s slow starvation, even in summer let alone winter. Her needs compared with other bovines may be small but town’s folk can be astonished when they learn of 56lbs of grass pulled by tongue and not bitten, or 15lbs hay and 8 gallons of water daily.
Beryl (Woodmagic)
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:06 pm
by Broomcroft
We had one such 'back-garden' enquiry, from a built-up area, within hours of the paper being printed today. One cow wanted to be kept on it's own etc. No way. Not that it matter, but it was Carole who provided the link Beryl, thanks Carole.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1218992852
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:42 pm
by redhill
Having just spent the last 36 hours persuading a beautiful red Dexter heifer calf to live,( belonging to a novice Dexter keeper, who although she loves her cows was quite happy for one to give birth in a downpour and for cow and calf to stay out in the field resulting in a chilled calf who is still not suckling)
I question the wisdom in our Breed Secretaries comments.
where is the little face that shows angry? but perhaps you can tell without it Sue Osborne Castlemears Herd Forest of Dean
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:51 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Sue,
please try not to be too angry - from bitter experience I know that articles in the press have a wonderful habit of attributing inaccurate quotes produced from notes gathered by the writer in a great hurry when the contributor is given literally no notice of the questions asked. I may be over sensitive on the DCS secretary's behalf but I certainly don't wish to see any unwarranted criticism on a public discussion board after what the DCS has been through in recent times.
If we do not like the article, we can take that up with the writer or the Times, and we can make a point of gently correcting any misconceptions we see being made.
Duncan
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:27 pm
by redhill
Duncan
I have indeed contacted the Times and gently pointed out that Dexters as all cattle need, TB testing, Blue tongue vaccinations Defra paperwork ,movement records,passports ear tags,etc and then we have
breed society paperwork, all of which can come as a big shock when all you want is a pretty little cow in the paddock,
Sue
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:31 pm
by Saffy
Good point Duncan.
I agreed to cover a small show recently for the local paper, no payment involved of course.
I sent them a short article plus photographs. They printed it accurately almost to the end. They just left out the last sentence which read - words and photographs by Stephanie Powell.
No I won't be doing it again, I shall do it for the rival paper! :D
I do think that newspapers have a great deal to answer for and YES they like to twist things!
Stephanie
Edited By Saffy on 1219008822
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:31 am
by redhill
I do not contribute very often to this site (mainly because I constantley have a pile of paperwork to complete) but this one realy made me see red, quote "People are realising that if you’ve got a couple of acres, you can just stick them there,” said Sue Archer, JUST STICK THEM THERE? my thoughts when I read this was that this person should not be allowed to have anything to do with even a goldfish let alone any form of larger livestock, then I went on to finish the sentance, the societys breed secretary, if this is indeed what she said then perhaps in future anything she says that is other than to members should first be sanctioned by the steering committee/council.
this is the same person who would not release the names of any local judges to a long standing member of the society, even though she admitted to having the list in front of her.
no mention was made in this article that ALL forms of livestock must be checked on at least twice a day, not to mention all the other aspects mentioned above, articles like this one make me wonder if we are the only ones who bother to check their stock more than about once a month, if the secretary did not actually say that "you can just STICK them there" then I would hope to see an apology for a mis quote in the next publication, in the mean time I would strongly request that not only all livestock owners but anyone who has any feelings towards any form of livestock boycot this publication.
to just stick any form of livestock in any area infers that they need no tending not even to the extent of vegetables in the garden.
Bill Osborne, Forest of Dean,
Edited By redhill on 1219016481
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:11 am
by Peter thornton
The article mentioned having a calf a year. It didn't exactly cover the activity 9 months before. Either this back garden is going to have to cope with a bull, or the owner will need a trailer!
There's also the small point of appropriate equipment/buildings in order to restrain the cattle when dehorning, castrating etc.
But, articles like this is what we are going to have to live with - until we sort out this breed and decide whether we want cows for a purpose, or cows for show.
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:50 am
by Saffy
Be fair - no article in a newspaper will contain everything required on how to keep a Dexter.
Is there a booklet giving the basics for the new keeper which we could suggest a new Dexter owner should buy, to include:
Acreage per animal
Hay per animal
Water requirements
Fencing
Ministry
Other likely health needs
Signs of calving
Signs of Bulling
AI
Handling facilities
When to call the vet
Etc
If so this site might be a good place to advertise its existence. If there isn't one out there perhaps a more experienced Dexterite might consider putting one together, I don't mind helping if I can??? Then maybe an article like the one we are discussing would mention the booklet which would at least improve the chances of any Dexter bought following reading it.
Stephanie
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:07 am
by redhill
There always used to be such a booklet but it seems to have gone the way of all good things,
mind you I am thinking of about 35-40 yrs ago when this booklet was sent out to new or potential new keepers,
that said dexters are cattle and any good cattle book will give the main guidence.
Bill, Forest of Dean.
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:29 pm
by Fifitrix
Hello, I just wanted to add my two pence worth as one of those 'town dwellers' who read the article and thought 'I want one of those'.
I keep chickens, have a good sized garden and am very keen to sustain my family as much as possible from home produce, so naturally the way the article was written had me on the internet looking for more information.
I'm glad I've found this forum as I can see that it would be a dreadful idea and am more than a little cross with the Times for this article.
Please do not dismiss me or despise my stupidity. I would have taken great care of the animal but obviously would have found myself out of my depth based on the information I've now learnt.
I would like to suggest that the Dexter UK Home Page carries some really basic information to alert people like me to these facts.