Search found 56 matches

by JohnnyP
Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:51 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Close the discussion board?
Replies: 16
Views: 31982

Re: Close the discussion board?

This forum certainly helped me when I became a Dexter owner. How about adding a variety of topics in the Board Index, one of which could be "DCS Issues", and thus easily avoided by users heading straight for the "Cattle Health" topic? But I also think that the DCS should have its...
by JohnnyP
Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:58 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council
Replies: 10
Views: 12023

Re: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council

I've just come across the list of breeds which are eligible for SRDP funding in the current 2014-20 CAP round:

Aberdeen Angus
Ayrshire
Belted Galloway
Galloway
Riggit Galloway
White Galloway
Highland
Luing
Shetland
Shorthorn
Whitebred Shorthorn
by JohnnyP
Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:29 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Why I don't outwinter...
Replies: 18
Views: 36525

Re: Why I don't outwinter...

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 woul...
by JohnnyP
Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:42 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Staggers - so close!
Replies: 10
Views: 14078

Re: Staggers - so close!

Thanks for the alert Tim. Think I'd better buy some Calciject! Checked my supplement - Harbros Hill Cow Breeder Rolls (82430) and they're 1.5% magnesium, but if an animal gets bullied out of their fair share...

(good link to the Magnesium Tetany article too)
by JohnnyP
Sat Jan 02, 2016 6:13 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council
Replies: 10
Views: 12023

Re: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council

Happy New Year Duncan - don't get me started on CAP Reform! You are right that the SRDP scheme for which I sent the link ended in 2014. Something similar is probably intended for the newly-reformed 2015-2020 round of funding, most likely buried deep in the "Agri-Environment Climate Scheme"...
by JohnnyP
Sat Jan 02, 2016 1:28 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council
Replies: 10
Views: 12023

Re: New Year Resolutions For Dexter Cattle Society Council

British Isles : a group of islands off the NW coast of continental Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland and over 6,000 smaller isles. (Wikipedia) UK: Great Britain and Northern Ireland. So the British Isles includes Kerry in the SW of Ireland, whereas the UK does not. I was disappointed years...
by JohnnyP
Tue Nov 24, 2015 2:00 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Interesting email
Replies: 24
Views: 23082

Re: Interesting email

Just checked the diary for when Judy Sponaugle could visit my herd...

...Never.
by JohnnyP
Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:03 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Wintering Out
Replies: 20
Views: 26730

Re: Wintering Out

In my first flush of enthusiasm for Dexters I read "Grass-fed Cattle" by Julius Ruechel, which details how a grass-only grazing system can be managed. My takeaway point for winter grazing was that one should aim for the grass to have grown but gone dormant before senescence, thereby retain...
by JohnnyP
Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:39 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Birth weights
Replies: 7
Views: 8050

Re: Birth weights

I'd be somewhat interested to know my calves' birth weights, but have never been sufficiently motivated to weigh one. And if you're wondering what I put on the pedigree registration form - I make it up. Usually 21kg.
by JohnnyP
Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:10 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Are We Dexter Owners Nice People?
Replies: 21
Views: 25391

Re: Are We Dexter Owners Nice People?

The tourist who yesterday parked in front of my field gate and then went for a long walk didn't think I was a nice person... :evil:
by JohnnyP
Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:59 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: URGENT - CALF REQ'D
Replies: 5
Views: 6554

Re: URGENT - CALF REQ'D

That's grim - sorry for your loss.

Happened to us last year. We dried the cow off by giving her access to only water and a little hay, and keeping a close eye on her udders for inflammation. It took about a week, but no apparent ill effects.
by JohnnyP
Fri Jul 17, 2015 8:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Pictures
Replies: 28
Views: 28877

Re: Pictures

That seemed to work. Here's another from February 2015. They didn't eat the snowdrops, just sniffed them...
by JohnnyP
Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:50 pm
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Pictures
Replies: 28
Views: 28877

Re: Pictures

First attempt at attaching an image file. This was November 2014...
by JohnnyP
Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:46 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: feeding Dexters overwinter
Replies: 11
Views: 19183

Re: feeding Dexters overwinter

My 4 cows and 3 calves spend all winter outside in the woods, they get 90-100kg of haylage per day (2 mini-round bales) and a mineral lick. My first winter I referred to "Crofting Agriculture" by Fraser-Darling, which has a useful table showing different fodder crop feed values and dry mat...
by JohnnyP
Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:52 am
Forum: General Discussion Board
Topic: Herd Return - Done yours yet?
Replies: 7
Views: 10926

Re: Herd Return - Done yours yet?

No.

Can't decide whether DCS membership is more or less irritating than TV licence.