Herd size - what is the average Dexter Herd size

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:43 pm

I think what Martin says makes sense. Keep stores separate, in Dexter Cattle For Sale if feasible, and use something like market prices as a guide. Leave the details up to the individuals. At a market the seller pays the transport one way and the buyer the other naturally, so bear that in mind when using the guide prices from Farmers Weekly. I assume also that with the store market, the seller has to have the TB report to move the animals, so he/she will have paid for that. So in other words, the market prices will include TB testing and one way transportation.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed May 02, 2007 5:57 pm

I just think it needs a little more than putting animals onto the for sale site and hoping that someone buys them. Surely it would help finishers if it were known what animals were going to be ready (and approximately when) and in what areas. If it were possible to plan ahead with confidence births could be arranged by breeders in groups or spread out to suit buyers, TB tests could be arranged at the best times for animals going, winter housing and hay/haylage quantities could be calculated more accurately.

I also wonder if standard cattle prices provide the benchmark will they actually make it viable for breeders to sell calves at the ages finishers want. Unless there is some sort of incentive (other than being overstocked and having to sell at any price) there surely can't be any point in breeding Dexters for beef instead of half the number of full sized cows which can simply go to the local market.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:07 am

Age of steers is not a problem as finishers will take into consideration the time it is expected to take to finish each animal. People are finishing Dexters at anything between 18 and 30 months giving a 12 month window to get the animals finished, as we all know not all animals finish correctly at the same time and feeding management can also delay or speed up finishing allowing a spread of animals ready for the butcher over that 12 month period. So Sylvia your animals will not be to old for a finisher, in fact it should allow him to turn some money over in a relatively short period making them a quite atractive proposition. To see if the exercise will be of use to you I suggest you try to weigh some of yours and work out what you would get for them, in the farmers weekly this week it shows a market average of about £1.07 a kilo live weight. If you are in a 12 month TB test area transport could be arranged for immediately after your test solving one cost problem. I think that this is why breeders and finishers should build up relationships between each other as hurdles are much easier crossed when you know each other and can discuss and arrange things to suit both parties. Don't just write the idea off because you don't know if it will stack up financially, weigh a few steers, do the sums and work out whats best for you.
Anyone that has had animals killed and butchered knows the costs and sometimes hastle in selling the beef and can work out how much they have earned for that particular beast. Take out the costs of killing and butchering and the hastle of getting it all done and £1 a kilo could be attractive.
Martin.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:42 am

Thanks Martin, I have been there, done that and have the freezers to prove it so I do know what you are talking about re cost and hassle. I have a satisfactory arrangement for the lambs, which means I know they can go if they can't be sold as pedigrees (which they are) and it is so nice to have that assurance. I would be so pleased if the same arrangement could be put together for the Dexters which, because they must be housed here during Winter, are even more of a worry. I have a TB test in the first week in June. I can't decide whether to put everything for sale up on the list immediately after that or to have a farm event so that anyone interested can see what we have and what we are doing here and take away anything they want to buy. As you can see my marketing skills are just about zero.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:32 pm

It may be a good idea to post them on the web before the date as it then gives people time to organise themselves and make plans in advance. Remember you only have limited time after the test to dispose of them. I am certainly thankfull that I am in a four yearly test district, and have sympathy for all those in a yearly one.
How many steers do you have for sale and how many heifers that would be destined for the butcher?

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:16 pm

12 steers born between April and August 06 (mostly non short)

11 (+) heifers born between April and September 06 (mostly non short). plus a few others later if no-one buys cow and calf pairs which I intend to offer as well.

I'll get the camera out tomorrow

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:13 pm

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:20 am

Sylvia, I am astounded by the price you get from the butcher, hope you don't have to sell directly too often. It would be ideal for you to match up with buyers out of your area, who pay decent money. You need an entrepreneur to visit you! Lets hope the DBO is the answer. Best of luck with your sale.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:48 pm

Yes, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can find decent homes for a third to one half of my herd of nice tempered cows and find someone who will take my yearlings out of this area to somewhere where they will be appreciated but I have to say that at present I'm not enormously hopeful.