Melton Sale 7/8 Sept latest!

[Mark Bowles]

Latest news is that there are 40 entries at Melton Mowbray Breed sale 7/8th Sept. Catalogues available soon, more info to follow.

[Jac]

More cheap Dexters for the beef producers?

[Mark Bowles]

I have an 1 entry and rest assured it won't be going for beef, can't speak for the others. You really should have a more optimistic outlook Jac.

[Rob R]

Well it certainly made me think about definitely going - I was assuming she was trying to drum up some trade.

I got an e-mail from Malton market on Thursday afternoon saying they were having a rare breeds sale, today! The state of my trailer, workload & bank account (and that there were only definitely going to be three Dexters there (two steers & a heifer, didn't even know if they were pedigree) meant that I didn't bother.

[Jac]

I have an 1 entry and rest assured it won't be going for beef, can't speak for the others. You really should have a more optimistic outlook Jac.

I would like to see the Society leading from the front on the pricing issue at this type of sale by setting an acceptable reserve price for those passing breed inspection (unless the vendor's reserve is above that figure) based on the meat price. If the animal does not reach the reserve then the vendor has the option to sell without reserve but the Society removes the animal's green card.

All too often the Society has skirted round the pricing issue using 'regional variation' and various other excuses for not offering practical advice. Dexter owners often have no idea how much their animals are worth (on the hoof) as they do not have to concern themselves with that type of thing but these figures should be used for setting the base line. The Society should regularly update it's members who are not 'in the know' in the Bulletin and daily on the Society's web site with the average prices.

[Rob R]

I see a lot of merit in that idea Jac.

I was also just thinking about how the BPA issue pedigree meat certificates for non-breeding stock that are otherwise pedigree. I'd like it if the society did the same with pedigree Dexter steers & heifers, then we could display our genuine Dexter meat and those who were using unregistered stock or Dexter cross and selling it as Dexter would have some differentiation. I put the eartag on my meat labels for this reason.

[Jac]

I see a lot of merit in that idea Jac.

I was also just thinking about how the BPA issue pedigree meat certificates for non-breeding stock that are otherwise pedigree. I'd like it if the society did the same with pedigree Dexter steers & heifers, then we could display our genuine Dexter meat and those who were using unregistered stock or Dexter cross and selling it as Dexter would have some differentiation. I put the eartag on my meat labels for this reason.

What happened to the steer cards the Society used to issue? I can still see independent verification inspection required and the cost of this does not justify the returns. I use the tag number on my labels as the traceability reference number as well.

[Broomcroft]

Is there any way you can attract beef buyers there if they aren't there already, weigh them and announce the weight. That'll help buyers come up with proper considered bids. May be that would help ease prices upwards? I'm a closed herd but otherwise I would bid at sales if I knew the weight, otherwise I'm going to have to guess on the low side. Dexters can be deceptive weight-wise.

[Rob R]

I see a lot of merit in that idea Jac.

I was also just thinking about how the BPA issue pedigree meat certificates for non-breeding stock that are otherwise pedigree. I'd like it if the society did the same with pedigree Dexter steers & heifers, then we could display our genuine Dexter meat and those who were using unregistered stock or Dexter cross and selling it as Dexter would have some differentiation. I put the eartag on my meat labels for this reason.

What happened to the steer cards the Society used to issue? I can still see independent verification inspection required and the cost of this does not justify the returns. I use the tag number on my labels as the traceability reference number as well.

You don't have independant inspection with either the BPA or DCS pedigree certificates, so the extra cost would be nil. Unless you were insisting upon inspections for all stock, but that is another subject.

[Rob R]

Is there any way you can attract beef buyers there if they aren't there already, weigh them and announce the weight. That'll help buyers come up with proper considered bids. May be that would help ease prices upwards? I'm a closed herd but otherwise I would bid at sales if I knew the weight, otherwise I'm going to have to guess on the low side. Dexters can be deceptive weight-wise.

That's one of my biggest bugbears with the local store sales - they run them across the weigh to get them into the ring, but don't display the weight. I'm like you, knowing the weight gives you a starting point, particularly in a fast moving auction sale.

[Jac]

Is there any way you can attract beef buyers there if they aren't there already, weigh them and announce the weight. That'll help buyers come up with proper considered bids. May be that would help ease prices upwards? I'm a closed herd but otherwise I would bid at sales if I knew the weight, otherwise I'm going to have to guess on the low side. Dexters can be deceptive weight-wise.

I think that is a very good idea.

[Jac]

I see a lot of merit in that idea Jac.

I was also just thinking about how the BPA issue pedigree meat certificates for non-breeding stock that are otherwise pedigree. I'd like it if the society did the same with pedigree Dexter steers & heifers, then we could display our genuine Dexter meat and those who were using unregistered stock or Dexter cross and selling it as Dexter would have some differentiation. I put the eartag on my meat labels for this reason.

What happened to the steer cards the Society used to issue? I can still see independent verification inspection required and the cost of this does not justify the returns. I use the tag number on my labels as the traceability reference number as well.

You don't have independant inspection with either the BPA or DCS pedigree certificates, so the extra cost would be nil. Unless you were insisting upon inspections for all stock, but that is another subject.

No but you need independant inspection to label it as Dexter.

[Rob R]

The certificates the BPA issues are just verification that the eartag number is a genuine pedigree animal, it's a point of sale certificate, rather than a label.

[Jac]

The certificates the BPA issues are just verification that the eartag number is a genuine pedigree animal, it's a point of sale certificate, rather than a label.

I don't believe you are permitted to advertise or point of sale it either.

[Rob R]

The certificates the BPA issues are just verification that the eartag number is a genuine pedigree animal, it's a point of sale certificate, rather than a label.

I don't believe you are permitted to advertise or point of sale it either.

You would be when it's on the hoof, though?