Selling Dexters

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:17 pm

Call me old fashioned but I would rather sell my cattle for less knowing they will go to a good home,than put them through the stress of an auction,just for a good price.All of our Dexters have Woodmagic in their pedigree,and there is usually a waiting list,for both beef and breeding stock,as you so rightly say Lisa
everyone is entitled to breed what they like.and I'm very happy with my herd. Sue
p.s. our Dulcianna aged 21 yrs 100% Woodmagic, is in calf, only she knows when junior will arrive as we thought she was in retirement, but it does show that for longevity, and productivity Woodmagic takes some beating . Sue

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:09 pm

I have a very nice red (small) non short heifer that is being offered for sale and a well known Dexter breeder and show winner looked at her for me yesterday. I was told that she was a potential show cow and if she had the right prefix would fetch good money but as my prefix has no show experience would be worth considerably less. I believe this is very true, and does make the case for showing if you want to sell your animals alive and get good money for them.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:43 pm

So your animal is valued not on what she could actually earn for its owner, but only her promise in the show ring. . I would argue this demonstrates lack of education and sense of priorities for the membership, also it begs the question, how many judges look at the handler before the animal?
Beryl (Woodmagic)

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:10 pm

Just to go back to where I left off, I'm not advocating low prices but affordable animals. I would like to see more breeders getting a fair price for their stock and having the confidence to go to a National sale in search of new bloodlines knowing that the price they buy at will be on a par with the price they sell at. While the top price head line grabbing animals are fantastic, it's the mid-range that is probably of more interest to more people, both buying and selling.
I also note the interesting distinctions being made between price & performance. As I'm well & truly in the past academically, not just the C19th, these arguments have been batted to & fro for at least the past couple of centuries. I have a Powerpoint presentation that is doing the rounds of the conference circuit, which covers some of this ground, should anyone need a speaker for a group at some time.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:56 pm

A local cattle Society (Sussex) have breed sales at Ashford market twice a year. Some stock is led others are not halter trained. At the end of the sale store stock, steers and heifers are sold, not individually but in groups allowing the Sussex breeders the oportunity to sell all types of stock at the same sale. It may be an idea to attempt this type of sale as it may help attract buyers looking for animals for beef.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Mon May 26, 2008 1:20 pm

Martin, thanks for this info. This is precisely the sort of scenario that I would envisage as a National breed society sale.