Request for Bones

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:31 am

I appreciate that this is going to be a tricky request but, as my project progresses, I'm noticing the lack of any bones from a short-leg steer. I don't normally castrate so all my homegrown skeletons are from entire males.
At the moment, I'm particularly interested in the lower leg bones, commonly known as cannon bones. Since these are removed at skinning, it needs a very helpful abattoir to keep them. If anyone might possibly be able to send me a set of 4 feet, I will be delighted to reimburse any costs incurred.
If anyone in the north of England has any other fore or hind leg bones returned by their butcher, I would be delighted to collect.
I would need to know the parentage and dates of birth and slaughter of the steer.

Edited By Louisa Gidney on 1225276337

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:33 pm

Good Luck with your request. I always ask for bones back for the dogs when I send a Dexter to the abbatoir and only once have they boxed them up for me. Much more usual is an offer to get some when we turn up for the meat and ask if they are included. The source of these certainly would not be from my Dexters.

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:17 pm

I realise that this is a long shot Sylvia but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I should also add that I would like bones from animal/s as near 30 months old as possible. I do have a couple of junior short-leg steer skeletons but the bones I am interested in are unfused on these skeletons.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:17 am

Louisa

We have a bullock going to slaughter at Nattrass in Weardale on the 9th/10th November. He was born on the 25th May 2007 so will be 29 months and 2 weeks. I always request back the bones but you can have the lower leg bones with pleasure. I am sure Mr Nattrass will let you pick them up as it is easier than bringing them to Barnard Castle and then Tow Law. I'll check when we take him in and let you know. His dam is Aiskew Flair (F23523) and his sire is Aiskew Travellers Lucky Jim (M3853).

Both our calves from Knotting Leo have been born, the last arrived on Friday. They are both wonderful little heifers! He has done a good job and we are very pleased with them, especially after two years of male calves. Its lovely to hire a bull that not only throws good calves but is so laid-back and easy to deal with. Is he available to hire again for February and March ?

Helen Roff
Swinholme Farm
Bowes
Barnard Castle

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:49 am

Helen, that's handy as I'm taking sheep to Nattrass the same weekend so could collect your bones with my lambs. We need to make clear to him that I want the actual feet back. I once took an animal to Nattrass clearly explaining that the skeleton was more valuable to me than the meat, so I needed the head & feet back but he "forgot" to keep them for me.
Yes, Leo is free at that time. I had him provisionally pencilled in for you.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:10 pm

Louisa

I have rung Nattrass and he is happy with that as long as the defra vet will allow the feet and cannon to be kept. Bulldozer will be slaughtered on the 10th (Monday). Because these bones can not go into the chill room they will need picking up early. But you can discuss this with him when you take your sheep.
I will probably see you there - I'm the one doing the bad reversing and causing a backlog !!