Roaring Dexters

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:08 am

Hi,
I'm just wondering if Dextercattle is much more roaring than other cattle all over the planet or only my swiss alpin stock?

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:32 am

My Dexter bulls are considerably more vocal than any others in the vicinity. I live a mile from my holding but I can open the door, hear bellowing & know that it is my boy advertising his availability to all the local cows and challenging all comers among the local bulls.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:47 am

Yes very vocal, and a wide vocabulary as well. We have had bulls who can be heard over a mile away, quite a high pitched bellow, usually start at 4am or whenever the sun gets up if later. They also do a lot of low level growling. I have had several noisy cows as well, and some who I imagined sounded different when the wanted water to when they wanted fed. I am sane, honestly.

Duncan

ann · Post by **ann** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:44 pm

I had one who made a noise like a donkey, the neighbours had to show their visitors that is was a bull as he made such a strange noise, the Kirks brought him from me many years a go, I wonder if they had the same reaction from their neighbours.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:18 pm

But it's quite funny. My other Breeds, Simmentals and Evolenarde, they never bark as much and as loud as dexters do, till they get together....
I think it must be into the breed...?

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:26 am

I have a lovely cow named Music, which was inspirational of the breeders who must have named her very early as she is registered. She also bellows in a way not unlike a donkey with the first LOUD bellow and then subsequent quieter ones until she works up to the next full powered effort. However (thankfully) they are normally very quiet indeed unless they want something.

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:09 pm

Oh dear, and I thought it was only my Daphne and her daughter (and granddaughter, sons etc.) Yes, they sure do bellow! At the moment they can see the road so it is not uncommon for them to start yelling if they see someone walking by. This is a shout for food mostly although the girls always like to broadcast their heats. Then there are the shouting matches between groups as they prefer to be all together in the same paddock.

One thing I was not aware of is how they were challenging horseback riders on the road when they are in the paddock adjacent to the roadway. Just learned this last summer when I happened to hire one of the riders. Apparently the cows really frightened the horses so I guess my cows have a reputation now! :laugh:

No doubt that Dexters are real characters.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:31 pm

I don't think the mutual excitement between horses and cattle when riders pass by on the road is as exculsive to dexters as the loud volume and varied vocabulary. We have a Fell Pony who in his younger days was quite easily excited and it used to be touch and go keeping him under control passing Friesian and Limousin cross Friesian yearilings in roadside fields, as they would first race towards us and then up and down the fence till we had passed.

Duncan

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:11 am

Yes, our Salty bull will stand on a hill a broadcast his availability as well. Especially near mating season, which for us is in December.

One of our cows is deafening when she starts bellowing. :D