Why I don't outwinter...

[Jac]

I do wonder how many beginners go on this discussion board and think that they only require a field to keep Dexters. Keeping cattle outdoors in the winter is a management strategy, that does not mean that you will not require access to buildings to put them in when the need arises.

http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/out-w ... attle.aspx

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Yes you are quite right Jac, it is all very well for me to wax lyrical about how my Dexters can outwinter, but it is certainly not for everyone or everywhere. Climate is perhaps the most obvious thing that must be right, and on the Isle of Bute we are very fortunate to have so little frost and snow. I am also fortunate to have rental of sufficient area that I can move the herd around different enclosures to utilise grass, and to ensure biosecurity when neighbours have cattle in adjacent fields. It can be a bit of a juggling act at times, and of course it always has to ensure that the calving cows are next to what buildings I have got. People from many continents read this and their experience is often quite different as far as climate, type of pasture, types of feed available etc go.


Duncan

[JohnnyP]

Agree with Jac. I outwinter and it's a worry, monitoring field conditions, weather forecasts and animal condition. I mostly depend upon two woods for shelter, but in the recent heavy and persistent rains I brought them inside for 3 weeks R&R. They're out again now in the frosts. One point I would make is that my herd hate being inside, and are so joyful on being released that I am always reluctant to bring them in, even if it's good for them.

[Rob R]

It's a bit windy here today, I have no idea where the fences will be when it goes down this time; https://www.instagram.com/p/BAhiIjLBmKy/

The updated view, six months on; https://www.instagram.com/p/BHhSxCyB3Ge/