Please let us share a Dexter community get well soon to Penny who is undergoing not just one but two hip replacements at the moment.
What with the herd, the meat business, the Taste of Yorkshire finals, the special side of beef for Anthony Worrel Thompson, haytime, the dogs (especially Lady Lucy Lickalot), oh and of course the family there are no slow lanes in North Yorkshire.
Legless in Easingwold
-
Mark Bowles
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1290
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 6:03 pm
- Location: Leicestershire England
Thanks for the kind words. It was a big surprise to log on and find this. I was a bit worried as to what it would say........too many G&T's used as analgesics, possibly!
Anyway, I have had a partial refurbishment and the complete refit should be done in another couple of weeks, so look out dexters, I'll be able to keep up with you again.
Not being able to do much outside is giving me far too much time to think, and one is my concern about the current market for Dexters and the worrying outlook for the next few years. The national herd has grown rapidly, but no new markets are being actively opened up to cope with the spiralling numbers of stock being bred. Yes, people like myself are finding a ready market for beef, but reading bulletins from 10 years ago, they say the same as today: questionnaires about breeding for beef and the need for coordination/promotion at a national level.
Could it be that those most active in the Dexter Society are always held backfrom taking this further due to protecting their own niche market, or, more likely, that there simply is not the time/ finance for those who volunteer for council to be able to pursue this more actively and really show that dexters can be kept commercially. I fear without a sound commercial market, like most of the other traditional breeds have, DExter numbers may soon go down rapidly, as smallholders don't want to keep stock they cannot sell.
I should have put this under a different topic heading, so will probably do this in a day or 2. Expect a few postings from me in the next few weeks until I am mobile again!!
Anyway, I have had a partial refurbishment and the complete refit should be done in another couple of weeks, so look out dexters, I'll be able to keep up with you again.
Not being able to do much outside is giving me far too much time to think, and one is my concern about the current market for Dexters and the worrying outlook for the next few years. The national herd has grown rapidly, but no new markets are being actively opened up to cope with the spiralling numbers of stock being bred. Yes, people like myself are finding a ready market for beef, but reading bulletins from 10 years ago, they say the same as today: questionnaires about breeding for beef and the need for coordination/promotion at a national level.
Could it be that those most active in the Dexter Society are always held backfrom taking this further due to protecting their own niche market, or, more likely, that there simply is not the time/ finance for those who volunteer for council to be able to pursue this more actively and really show that dexters can be kept commercially. I fear without a sound commercial market, like most of the other traditional breeds have, DExter numbers may soon go down rapidly, as smallholders don't want to keep stock they cannot sell.
I should have put this under a different topic heading, so will probably do this in a day or 2. Expect a few postings from me in the next few weeks until I am mobile again!!
Glad to hear you are back home again, Penny, even if it is only for a couple of weeks. Never mind, that is plenty of time to set the Dexter world to rights and make us all sit up and take notice. I look forward to you bombarding us with good advice and wise thoughts while you are under house arrest (or whatever you like to call it!).
Best wishes Penny - last time we met I thought you were running around like a spring chicken so it was a great shock to see you must have been over-pushing yourself at your open day.
I agree about markets etc. for Dexters. I keep explaining the economics to local commercial farmers, farming consultants, SAC etc. indeed, anyone who will listen and they all to a man/woman say "Yup, your figures will be right Jo but..." and basically until they retire, they don't want to have a herd of wee cattle - loss of face?
I agree about markets etc. for Dexters. I keep explaining the economics to local commercial farmers, farming consultants, SAC etc. indeed, anyone who will listen and they all to a man/woman say "Yup, your figures will be right Jo but..." and basically until they retire, they don't want to have a herd of wee cattle - loss of face?