Finishing Heifers

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:29 pm

I have only finished steers and take them to about 24-27 months, finished on grass or forage. What do you do differently with Dexters heifers, if anything?

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:47 pm

Clive IMHO there is nothing different to do except they generally finish sooner and if they go to far can end up a bit on the fat side. i am sure that others will have varying opinions and will share them with you. Others might think that as you are Mr. Beef they shouldn't share an opinion with you and that is why you have had so many views and no replies ???

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:23 am

Hi Clive,
Heifers will finish earlier or go to fat if you are not very carefull, keep a good eye on them from 16 months onwards. I don't know how you are set up with your butcher but you should take a good look at the first one on the hook to give you a an idea of how the rest are doing. I killed 4 heifers last year, the first couple where ok but within 6 weeks the last one was very fat, and a very expensive mistake for me.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:54 pm

I have a heifer I'd like to pop in the freeezer as she's not the right temperament - flighty and as a result difficult to handle. I let her have a calf in case that changed her, but it didn't. Trouble is when the calf is weaned she'll be about 35 months. Is it worth finding an OTM abattoir or will she be too fat to be worth it ?

Colin

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:26 am

If She's had a calf Colin then she shouldn't be too bad, the calf would have taken what would have turned to fat, all you can do is try it. I know of a few people that calve heifers before having them killed. If it's for your own use you won't upset anyone if she is a little fat, you just leave it at the side of the plate.
To learn lessons you have to try things out for yourself.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:17 pm

Hi Martin,
I have some in the freezer from a similar animal, only older!!. It is gorgeous.
You are ok until you go over 48 months, then she will cost you an extra fifty pounds for a bse test.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:48 pm

But if you kill at over 30 months but under 48, does it still have to be a special abattoir?

ann · Post by **ann** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:03 pm

most of the places who previously killed up to 30mths are now killing up to 48 so check it out with yours to see if they are also now killing up to 48mths

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:47 pm

Tried to find out a bit more about the change in rules for OTM cattle. The need for BSE testing in cattle slaughtered for human consumption has been changed from 30 months to 48 months. However, cattle aged between 30-48 months of age still need to go to an approved abattoir. Presumably this is because the vertebral column needs to be removed from these cattle.

Here's an interesting article :

http://www.nationalbeefassociation.com/ ... ...sID=191

Here's a list of approved abattoirs (would be more helpful if they gave their address or at least location):

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/Bse/otm ... ce-otm.htm

Colin

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:01 am

One of the OTM abattoirs is called "Cheshire Equine Services" !!

Edited By Broomcroft on 1237708947

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:10 pm

over the years many farmers and butchers have remarked to me that the best beef you can get is from a heifer that has had a calf, even though I have been in farming for many years I always took this with a pinch of salt but a couple of years ago we did have a Dexter heifer that was always intended to go for beef but stole the bull so we let her calve, and sent her off when the calf was weaned at 8 months old, even though we know that Dexter beef is the best you can get, the beef from this heifer was superb, as to age she was about 34mths, if you feed very little or no concentrates then feeding the calf will reduce any excess fat.
years ago most beef animals were kept until they were about 3 yrs and fed very little concentrates, the rule used to be calf in the spring, house them for their first winter leave them out for the 2nd winter (giving them just hay) and slaughter in autunm or winter of their 3rd year, needless to say in those days the breeds used were the old fashioned types such as Hereford, Shorthorn, Angus and the various crosses between them, they produced very good beef, not up to the Dexter standard but in those times there were not the number of Dexters about. Bill, Castlemears Dexters

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:41 am

Well I sent my heifer to the butcher at 28 months, not early. However, she was not kept with with finishing stock which are all steers and bulls, instead she was just with the breeding stock and so just on hay etc rather than my rocket fuel forage. I would call her in normal good condition when she went, so I'm hoping she will have a good carcass. I'll shall know soon.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1239000153

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:29 pm

The butcher reported back that beef from the heifer is excellent. She was finished late but slowly / unforced. In fact she wasn't finished really, she was just taken straight from normal grazing.