danger of extinction

[SteveM]

Just had a look at our bulls progeny list on DCS website. So the following is based on only one bull.

He has been out on hire to three separate herds over the last couple of years. Non of the calves from these visits are registered.

His registered daughters born into our herd have been sold, non are showing as now belonging to society members.

Recent sales have shown limited price differential between registered and non registered cattle.

Is the society in danger of extinction.

[Rob R]

I think the problem is down to the transfer fees - if someone is not that bothered about breeding pedigree in the first place, what incentive is there if it costs £22 to transfer an animal into your herd? Even before transfers it costs £75 to set up a herd, then you've still got to pay £11 more per animal.

Transfer should be free to encourage people to join and get their details on the society mailing list.

[Jac]

I do not believe that the DCS is in danger of extinction because there is a slow drip of new people who 'dip in and duck out' when they find that there is a very limited market for the stock that they have bred. However, because of this state of flux with member turnover this cannot be doing the breed itself any good.

The current debate has much to do with this

The meat market is only successful when the producer sells from the farm. So they are not workable for commercial beef or dairy and without a breed standard to maintain them as they were founded and that niche market promoted, the breed just cannot compete and will be at risk. It is difficult for those who are riding high on the wave of fad at the moment to recognize "this too shall pass" as the breed is being pulled too far from it's roots.
Judy

If the breed is not workable for commercial beef or dairy and niche markets are limited by their nature what then?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I try not to worry to much if people do not wish to register animals, but it can be disappointing if your lines are not continuing. I do try very hard to persuade anyone I know to join the Society and register calves.

Most livestock breeds have only a small proportion of fully registered animals with the appropriate breed society, and a larger number of non registered stock. There is now a larger number of registered Dexters than there has ever been before, and likewise the number of unregistered animals is growing.

Duncan

[Jac]

I try not to worry to much if people do not wish to register animals, but it can be disappointing if your lines are not continuing.....
Duncan

You speak of lines Duncan but how many stay the course and develop a line?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Sadly very very few of our members that I am in regular contact with seem to pay much attention to breeding lines, it is one of the things I wanted the Dexter Focus Group to be looking at.


Duncan

[Rob R]

It's down to us, as breeders, to ensure that lines continue after the stock has left our hands. That's not always easy, but only selling to trusted sources, even if it means getting less money, is one way to do it. Another way is to stay in touch and offer to have first refusal to buy back stock if need be is another. You've also got to watch the auctions, as some people would rather sell on than admit they're giving up to the breeder.

If you sell stock on with none of these safeguards you've effectively just culled that line from your herd and it's just pot luck if it carries on.

[Jac]

...

If you sell stock on with none of these safeguards you've effectively just culled that line from your herd and it's just pot luck if it carries on.

.... and if you buy them back and return them to the herd you risk wiping the rest of them out.

[Jac]

Sadly very very few of our members that I am in regular contact with seem to pay much attention to breeding lines, it is one of the things I wanted the Dexter Focus Group to be looking at.


Duncan

I shall look forward to that.

[Rob R]

...

If you sell stock on with none of these safeguards you've effectively just culled that line from your herd and it's just pot luck if it carries on.

.... and if you buy them back and return them to the herd you risk wiping the rest of them out.

If that's you're attitude then they're as good as dead the moment you sell them.

[Jac]

...

If you sell stock on with none of these safeguards you've effectively just culled that line from your herd and it's just pot luck if it carries on.

.... and if you buy them back and return them to the herd you risk wiping the rest of them out.

If that's you're attitude then they're as good as dead the moment you sell them.

Not to the person who is buying them in confidence that they are accredited free from BVD, IBR, Lepto and Johne's. The purchaser has a choice to join a health scheme in which case they can come back (if I have room) or if not I will try to re-sell on their behalf or they go directly to the abattoir (provided they are not in calf) via me if they can't bear to take them in themselves.

[Rob R]

If that's you're attitude then they're as good as dead the moment you sell them.

Not to the person who is buying them in confidence that they are accredited free from BVD, IBR, Lepto and Johne's. The purchaser has a choice to join a health scheme in which case they can come back (if I have room) or if not I will try to re-sell on their behalf or they go directly to the abattoir (provided they are not in calf) via me if they can't bear to take them in themselves.

Many ifs there.