Where dexters lead others follow!

[Jac]

Again, saying that members need to attend a meeting is just putting another barrier in the way as it is more expense before you even find out what's in it for you. They need to know why they should attend - the draw of the information alone is little incentive to someone who isn't interested in the information in the first place.

Induction DVD for new members?

[Rob R]

Rob - ever practical and I totally see your point, however LA does sell your stock, does sell your bulls and your bulls straws and does help you select for the best.

What better proof than my own little calf Duffryn Turtle Dove. Advertised on this very site last year as being out of the first excellent cow in the UK and sold as a calf for £1000, along with two other heifer calves - also out of assessed cows!

Linear assessment works and people that use it know it does.

Also as I've said before this site is a darned good place to advertise!

Stephanie

Your use of the words 'first excellent cow' is the key phrase there - like with the scientific method people need to see sustained and replicable results to be convinced. It may be that you would have received that price based upon the animal alone. This will take time and the average prices will be more important than spot prices so that scarcity can be eliminated at the point where you can confidently say that 'an excellent cow' will produce calves of higher value.

Let me put that another way - if every single cow in the herdbook had been assessed, would the result have been the same? If yes, how much value has it added to the calf and how much does it add to the majority of calves - those that will end up as beef, as opposed to breeders.

[Rob R]

Again, saying that members need to attend a meeting is just putting another barrier in the way as it is more expense before you even find out what's in it for you. They need to know why they should attend - the draw of the information alone is little incentive to someone who isn't interested in the information in the first place.

Induction DVD for new members?

That is a very good idea!

[Saffy]

Your use of the words 'first excellent cow' is the key phrase there - like with the scientific method people need to see sustained and replicable results to be convinced. It may be that you would have received that price based upon the animal alone. This will take time and the average prices will be more important than spot prices so that scarcity can be eliminated at the point where you can confidently say that 'an excellent cow' will produce calves of higher value.

I am saying that the fact that my cow had been classified as Excellent was enough to convince a person from another country that I had a herd of quality stock. Then this person wanted to buy a few more and bought my remaining heifer calves out of Linear Assessed mothers. I am confident that if the mothers had not been Linear Assessed they would not have been of interest to this person who did not travel to this country to see the animals. They were in this case purchased ENTIRELY on the Linear Classifications of the mothers.

....Realistically in the long run....it probably isn't in my best interests to persuade other dexter owners to get their stunning little cows LA is it!!!

Stephanie

[Jac]

Your use of the words 'first excellent cow' is the key phrase there - like with the scientific method people need to see sustained and replicable results to be convinced. It may be that you would have received that price based upon the animal alone. This will take time and the average prices will be more important than spot prices so that scarcity can be eliminated at the point where you can confidently say that 'an excellent cow' will produce calves of higher value.

I am saying that the fact that my cow had been classified as Excellent was enough to convince a person from another country that I had a herd of quality stock. Then this person wanted to buy a few more and bought my remaining heifer calves out of Linear Assessed mothers. I am confident that if the mothers had not been Linear Assessed they would not have been of interest to this person who did not travel to this country to see the animals. They were in this case purchased ENTIRELY on the Linear Classifications of the mothers.

....Realistically in the long run....it probably isn't in my best interests to persuade other dexter owners to get their stunning little cows LA is it!!!

Stephanie

Word of caution here to novices (do not try this at home). Beryl created a unique strain through inbreeding. She also did an awful lot of promotion overseas and was a well known and respected breeder that encompassed 50 years. The Society have given Petrel lots of publicity to promote the LA scheme. It is a shame that Beryl did not live long enough to reap her just rewards but I am glad that she has had you to carry on from her. However, I think you are giving false hope that people can get 'stunning little cows' LA'd and that alone is the cure for all ills.

[Rob R]

Your use of the words 'first excellent cow' is the key phrase there - like with the scientific method people need to see sustained and replicable results to be convinced. It may be that you would have received that price based upon the animal alone. This will take time and the average prices will be more important than spot prices so that scarcity can be eliminated at the point where you can confidently say that 'an excellent cow' will produce calves of higher value.

I am saying that the fact that my cow had been classified as Excellent was enough to convince a person from another country that I had a herd of quality stock. Then this person wanted to buy a few more and bought my remaining heifer calves out of Linear Assessed mothers. I am confident that if the mothers had not been Linear Assessed they would not have been of interest to this person who did not travel to this country to see the animals. They were in this case purchased ENTIRELY on the Linear Classifications of the mothers.

....Realistically in the long run....it probably isn't in my best interests to persuade other dexter owners to get their stunning little cows LA is it!!!

Stephanie

If that can, and is, replicated then there's unlikely to be any need to do anything to encourage others to do it - you won't be able to stop them!

[Rob R]

Here's another quick thought to throw into the mix - perhaps official sales should only be for assessed stock, rather than haltered ones.

[Jac]

Here's another quick thought to throw into the mix - perhaps official sales should only be for assessed stock, rather than haltered ones.

When LA first was muted and we had volunteers from Council have their stock assessed. A certain member who was retiring put his up for sale at one of the auction marts. I cannot recall that he achieved anywhere near the sorts of prices quoted.

[Rob R]

Here's another quick thought to throw into the mix - perhaps official sales should only be for assessed stock, rather than haltered ones.

When LA first was muted and we had volunteers from Council have their stock assessed. A certain member who was retiring put his up for sale at one of the auction marts. I cannot recall that he achieved anywhere near the sorts of prices quoted.

Perhaps not, but if the message is that stock should be assessed, whether haltered or not, this seems more logical. It's got to be a better indicator of breeding quality than whether you can train it to lead.

[Jac]

Here's another quick thought to throw into the mix - perhaps official sales should only be for assessed stock, rather than haltered ones.

When LA first was muted and we had volunteers from Council have their stock assessed. A certain member who was retiring put his up for sale at one of the auction marts. I cannot recall that he achieved anywhere near the sorts of prices quoted.

Perhaps not, but if the message is that stock should be assessed, whether haltered or not, this seems more logical. It's got to be a better indicator of breeding quality than whether you can train it to lead.

It isn't quite as simple as that. There does not seem to be a half way house heifers/cows have to be in milk to be assessed so does that mean that only older animals can be considered for entry?

[Rob R]

It isn't quite as simple as that. There does not seem to be a half way house heifers/cows have to be in milk to be assessed so does that mean that only older animals can be considered for entry?

Sorry, I wasn't being terribly clear; I meant to say assessed or out of/by assessed stock.

[Jac]

It isn't quite as simple as that. There does not seem to be a half way house heifers/cows have to be in milk to be assessed so does that mean that only older animals can be considered for entry?

Sorry, I wasn't being terribly clear; I meant to say assessed or out of/by assessed stock.

Well, if you can find enough. That said, it still does not get you round the 'every one would be Derby winners'.

[Rob R]

It isn't quite as simple as that. There does not seem to be a half way house heifers/cows have to be in milk to be assessed so does that mean that only older animals can be considered for entry?

Sorry, I wasn't being terribly clear; I meant to say assessed or out of/by assessed stock.

Well, if you can find enough. That said, it still does not get you round the 'every one would be Derby winners'.

The brief I was working towards was one of increasing the numbers of assessed herds. There must be at least half a dozen available for sale every year already, to get the ball rolling.

[Jac]

Yes there must. Why not have an LA bod to do on-site assessments on the day if not? It won't catch everyone but it would be a start.

[Saffy]

. Beryl created a unique strain through inbreeding. She also did an awful lot of promotion overseas and was a well known and respected breeder that encompassed 50 years. The Society have given Petrel lots of publicity to promote the LA scheme. It is a shame that Beryl did not live long enough to reap her just rewards but I am glad that she has had you to carry on from her. However, I think you are giving false hope that people can get 'stunning little cows' LA'd and that alone is the cure for all ills.

Beryl had quite a large herd of Dexters and sold between 10 and 20 females of different ages a year, plus young bulls....I only bought a few, I have bought a few more very old ones recently that I hope to perhaps get one calf from. I resent the suggestion that I am basking in her glory Jac, I have always made it abundantly clear in all my literature who bred my cows, how clever she was and how grateful I am to Beryl! Also when Beryl needed help although I lived a very long way away she knew she could ring me and I would be there, I travelled many times to see her in hospital and stayed all day and most of the night the day she died. I liked Beryl very much and we became friends, probably because of our similar attitude to farm animals. AND because I could see how good her cows were, many couldn't.....

Sadly many people who have been breeding cattle for years don't know which cows are the little stunners. We all have to learn, information doesn't come down out of the sky and not much is free.

What can you get for £30 these days? It is amazing value that you can get an assessor - not just to visit for that but to actually assess up to 10 cows and educate whoever happens to be there about how to LA at the same time. What if it was a vet that was to be asked to visit or a plumber or electrician, all these people charge a visiting fee - just to turn up and then want to be paid for the job on top. Come to that half a tank of fuel....£30!

Stephanie