Change of Breed - Move away from Dexters

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:32 am

I decided last year after a lot of soul searching to sell my Dexter herd and keep another breed. This was done mainly because finding a market for finished animals and selling the beef is time consuming and not what I keep cattle for. I did last year neglect some of my duties at work and my business did not grow as much as was planned. The decision was not easy as I have made many good friends within the Dexter Society and was very fond of the animals in my herd.
I have decided to keep Sussex cattle which are a local breed with a big following, breed sales are at my nearest market and are held twice a year. Any animals that I do not wish to keep are then easy to sell as they will go to one of these sales, steers are always offered after the breeding animals.
Sussex are a more commercial breed and can be finished from 18 months, a friend sold a 21 month steer at the Chrismas fatstock show that went 660kg at 21 months of age.
I wish all in Dexterdom well for the future and I will remain a keen follower of this site.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:26 pm

I hope you'll still contribute Martin as I feel you talk a lot of commonsense. You are right that it's OK selling beef but it is spoilt if at the end of the day, when you come to retire or pack up for whatever reason, that you can't easily sell your herd or just scale down at a reasonable price and locally. At the moment, many people speak of good beef sales and many are getting very high prices indeed, way above normal beef prices, but as yet this has not filtered through to the livestock.

Good luck. Like the look of the Sussex.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1232458000

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:02 pm

It is such a shame that marketing a Dexter of any kind is so difficult.

If it is taking good breeders away to other breeds then it is something that we must hope to change, I know it has been talked about before.

Please note those in charge of our sale what Martin has said above!!! Any Sussex animals he doesn't wish to keep can go to the sale - I take it they don't have to be on a halter? Steers also after everything else. That would be wonderful both for those with an excess of steers and those who had all heifers ona particular year and wanted a Dexter Sunday joint.

I know there were issues of space etc for our sale and understand the difficulties but if they could be overcome somehow maybe we would keep more members happy. Maybe more members would buy more Dexters and maybe we would ultimately keep more members.

Stephanie

ann · Post by **ann** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:03 pm

good luck with the sussex cattle, I can sympathize with your comments as I would love to be able to market my cattle without all the hassle of private sales. the trouble with dexters is you either need to stay very small and just have the odd one to sell around friends and family or you need to go down the route of having a lot and being able to turn out a couple of beast for slaughter each month to build up a regular outlet. When i only had a few and double suckled commercial calves it worked very well as I had enough cattle to keep my grass down, but only a couple of steers to sell each year. the commercials went dead weight, then along came BSE and I gave up the double suckling and the dexters increased. Sometimes I seriously think about going for an easier breed to sell deadweight, but couldn't bring my self to part with the dexters, they are such fun and that goes a long way to the enjoyment of keeping cattle

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If you meet the Garratts at a Sussex sale (Butterbox dexters) do say Hi to them as they keep both breeds now.

Rob & Alison Kirk · Post by **Rob & Alison Kirk** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:08 pm

Martin.....Good to hear from you. Hope your new cattle are settling in. Are you finding they are eating more than your Dexters ate? Mine seem to be eating through my bales of silage/haylage at a rate of knots. We have no problem selling the beef, fortunately customers come looking for us, but then Dexter beef is our sole business.

It must be difficult trying to run a separate business and trying to sell your Dexter beef privately. I agree you will find it easier to sell your finished Sussex cattle through markets or deadweight to abattoirs because of the bigger carcasses. As the saying goes: Horses for courses!

If you find yourself in Gloucestershire, please call in. I would enjoy showing you my cattle.

Good luck with your new breed.

Robert
Boram Dexters

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:56 am

In answer to some of your questions, at the breed sale you can enter into the show or not, no animal has to be haltered though I believe all bulls are. Any animal failing inspection is put the end of the sale along with the store animals. Most breeders know if their heifers are not so good and automatically enter them into the store section. Any animal failing inspection is removed from herd register.
Sussex are a docile breed, Di Smith describes them as thick! they are a lot calmer than Dexters and you can fool them easier.
I feed conventional bales of hay and my Dexters used to get about half a bale a day each. I have 3 cows (2 modern 1 traditional) and a May born heifer (still suckling) in the same shed and they get 2 bales a day, so they don't eat a lot more.
Thanks for the good wishes, I will certainly keep in touch.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:24 am

Martin - Sounds like a silly question, but where are the shows for Sussex?

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:03 am

Hi Clive,
main shows for Sussex Cattle are Heathfield, Surrey, South of England, Kent, Cranleigh and Edenbridge. Breeders do attend other shows in 'native' classes so you may see some at your local shows as there are breeders in your area. You will also see a good representation at the Royal.
Although a local breed there are breeders as far away as Cornwall, Perthshire and North Yorkshire.