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Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 12:00 pm
by Sylvia
85 people have looked at my request for a home for a black cow with a full pair of very attractive horns (if you like that sort of thing) - no-one is interested.
No-one has replied (yet) to my urgent request for a good natured, polled bull.
I wonder what would have been the result if I'd wanted horns and wanted to get rid of polled? Would that have been more successful?
Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 1:15 pm
by PeterO
Sylvia
I would love your horned cow but I am already renting an additional 3 acres to cope with my current stock (before this years calf crop). As it is most of my young stock will probably be beefed when I depart these shores next year.
Peter
Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 3:02 pm
by Sylvia
Oh dear Peter, that'll be one less of the people-who-like-horns in this country. I can't fault your idea of emigrating though, it was my first thought when I saw the results of the election, and then my husband came in and said exactly the same thing. Trouble is the move down here 5 years ago is still fresh in our minds and it was bad enough with what animals we had then and our stock has multiplied and diversified since then so I guess we will be staying where we are.
Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 2:50 pm
by PeterO
Sylvia
As a final straw they have just banned badger repellants - like Renardine. If you are the last 'farmer' to leave the Country don't bother turning out the lights!
Peter
Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 12:44 pm
by Jo Kemp
What on earth is the reason for banning a repellant? Stupid of me - reason isn't applied these days.
Yes, my heart sank to my boots as I watched, praying desperately until 4am election night... however, I did wonder if it was just as well G Brown had his comeupance as well as B-liar what with the pensions debarkle and general extra borrowing for the election and and and
my wish list was for a hung parliament so they would all have to discuss and agree rather than push ill-thought out and downright wrong bills through.
I am too old to emigrate but was tempted by New Zealand but people here are talking about Hungary and Rumania while prices are right!
Meanwhile my poor little bull was in quarantine for 8 weeks before being signed off by the vets for semen production..... I haven't visited him but dread the weight loss he has probably suffered. Just hope all is going well now - I need him back soon!
Jo
Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 4:46 pm
by Kathy Millar
How about moving to Canada? Our opposition want to oust the present government by any means possible so they can kill our medical system and hand over our resources to the Americans. And my province is having an election on Tuesday and we have the choice between Dumb and Dumber. Stay where you are and learn how to work the system. Become a pirate farmer!
Kathy
PS And I'll bet the New Zealanders aren't exactly thrilled with their government 
Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 5:49 pm
by PeterO
Nope - kiwi politics in some areas are even more mickey mouse than the UK (after all they were the first country to give females the vote - just JOKING). But they have Proportional Representation to moderate the idiots and in a country bigger than the UK, with a population of 4 million (80% in cities) I won't feel crowded! Add in the general populace don't think meat comes from a supermarket and don't think vermin are cuddly pets and life sounds better already. Life there isn't necessarily better overall but it is certainly different and the bits I am interested in (rural living, less regs and rules, no CGT/IHT) are definitely better - I could go on and on but enough of the rant. 
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:49 am
by Inger
I'm sorry to disillusion you PeterO, but our Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) have plenty of rules and regulations. The Department of Conservation (DoC) are an even greater thorn in the average farmer's side - don't buy land within 1 kilometre of DoC land or you'll always be answerable to them if you want to light a fire to burn off rubbish. They will offer you helpful advice to get rid of pests though.
There's a useful web-site called Lifestyle Block, where you can find heaps of handy information about farming in NZ, on a small scale. There's a forum on it called 'Your Place' which is great if you want to meet the locals and make contacts before you come over.
You're right Kathy, there are a lot of NZers who don't like the current Government, but it seems there are more who don't think much of the Opposition's chances of winning enough seats in the coming election either. The MMP electural system we have, has open up Paliament to all sorts of minority groups that are now able to lead the two large parties around by the nose, in order for one of those parties to gain enough seats to hold power. So you can get some rather left-wing legislation going through (like using untreated timber to build houses - a Greeny's idea which has caused no end of problems with house framing rotting inside the wall), without the bill being properly thought through. Our Resource Consent Act has stymied progress in areas where speed is of the essence. Like giving the OK to run an international car race through either Auckland or Wellington. The local councils just gave up and put it in the too-hard basket. They couldn't get planning permission through in the time that the Race organises needed to be able to prepare for it. So you see, we do have our Red Tape problems over here as well.
NZ is a pretty country though. I wish I could show you a picture of the view from the top of our farm. It looks out over the whole of the Bay of Islands. The view is just spectacular. You'll like New Zealand PeterO and the rest of you who don't want to swap countries, why not come for a visit? You can come over during your Winter and enjoy our Summer sunshine. :D
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:53 am
by Inger
Sylvia, we've got a really good natured polled bull. Sorry it's not much use to you though. All the best with your search. I presume you've tried the 'wanted' section of your 'Cattle for Sale' board?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:50 am
by Sylvia
Hello Inger, the power of the web!! What I want..... on the other side of the world. Yes you are right I have a message in the Wanted section. I really am a fan of polled Dexters, the relief when it comes to de-horning time to find nothing to do is immense. Eight of the 12 babes I have so far from my poor lad - polled like their dad. I'll leave the most promising un-cut just in case they turn out to be really good.
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 1:35 pm
by tim z
where are you and how much do you want for your cow?
has she been a problem?
at the moment i have a3 year old horned cow her 1 year old calf (horned),her 2 week old calf and a 2 year old steer.
any details for her.
timz,at tzahringer@aol.com
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 2:22 pm
by Sylvia
Oh dear, tim z, I'm afraid she is now properly dehorned and looking much more at home in our disbudded/polled herd.