Page 1 of 1
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:02 pm
by MarkCollins
Hello from a frosty Sweden. Like our French friends it is difficult to omport live animals to Sweden.The reason being the outstanding zoosanitary level here. It is something we all are thankful for and do not want to screw up.
plan 1 was to look to Denmark and found that nice dexters there have not been tested for paratuberculosis or anything else.
Our ag department has now recommended trying to buy some from Norway. Norway has about 100 dexters so its not easy to find some for sale.
Plan 3 is to buy embryos. Does anyone know of a EU approved facility selling dexter embryos in ANY EU country?
Plan 4 (least desireable) is to cross with our fjäll cows or red
polls (semen)
in a word - HELP!
any advice would be appreciated
Mark Collins, Gränna Sweden
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:56 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Hello Mark,
Nice to know there is some interest in Dexters in Sweden. Some years ago I did a short tour of Norway, Denmark and Sweden with 9 other Vets looking at cattle health schemes and the like so I have a limited knowledge of these countries approach to health and biosecurity. I have to say I was very impressed and finished the journey much wiser and convinced I was living and working in the dirty sump of Europe.
If you are looking to establish a Dexter population in Sweden I think one of the most important things is to get qood quality, and if you do this by grading up it will take a very long time to get both the quality and credibility. I would imagine that importing embryos whilst may seem a long term process might be quicker than any grading up process and if the right embryos are chosen would give you good quality. I do not know of any facility offering Dexter embryos for sale at the moment but given the demand for new Dexter genetics in several countries I would not be surprised to hear of some activity in this sector in the near future.
Be aware that the Chondrodysplasia gene can cause concern when you try to import Dexters and you might be wise to consider from the outset whether you wish to include carriers or not. It did cause great difficulty to those wishing to import to Switzerland at one time.
I must say I am surprised that the herds in Denmark have not been included in what seemed to me a very efficient Veterinary Laboratory set up run by Vigo Bitsch, a very forceful character with energy and drive to carry the whole concept forward.
Maybe others reading this will know more of likely embryo sources.
Duncan
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 6:52 am
by MarkCollins
Thanks for your reply Duncan. Why do we vets like the idea of small cattle? Is it possible we have knocked around too much by the big ones?
The Danes believe that 50 to 80% of their milk herds have paraTB and a new program is underway to look for it in milk tanks. Beef cattle are under no pressure to investigate their herds thus none have done it to my knowlege. We cannot find any information as to the results of veterinary inspection of animals for slaughter or carcasses from Denmark either.
I do believe that anyone investing some money screening their Dexter herd stands to make a good return on their investment. Looks and conformation are important but health is paramount in foudation stock. The chondrodysplasia gene is not an option here and would not be tolerated.
I believe in your conclusion that embryos is probably the only way to go.
thanks,
Mark
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:13 am
by moomin
I have explored the possibility of collecting embryos for export but it was not financially viable! The cost of collecting etc. was more than people were prepared to pay!! It is a big gamble. With the possibility of the live export market opening soon I decided it was not worth it. I do however export semen.
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:41 pm
by adamneachell
hello mark
we are planning to flush two dexter cows in the end of march
if this is of any interest to you or you want more information about flushing please just ask me!!
Adam Neachell