Another round of genetic testing has been done and we now have 8 tested that are A2/A2 and discovered a couple more that are homozygous for polled ( ie have no hidden horn gene) which means we are progressing in our herd goals. Some of our red heifer calves are also carrying the dun colour gene which I could see in their calf coat when they were very young showing as a dunnish red. I have always said calf coat can give you a good indicator of the genetic colour makeup of a calf. Calves that are born reddish and turn black usually means they carry red. Now we can genetic test to confirm those thoughts. We still have another 8 to test (saving up for that one) so we hope that lot has just as good results.
Still once all the results are in it means some will be sold as we can not keep them all on such a small place and as yet we have not found our ideal add on bit of land. Two of the little red boys are going to a pet home as lawnmowers as soon as I wean them. They are so cute you can see them in the gallery as Mebon and Morris. Check our for sale page for the six we have for sale right now and check back later as more become available.
Our other good news is that we have sent three of our best cows down to a farm school in Albany where they are embryo flushing them and implanting into their crossbred Dexters to start a purebred registered polled herd at the school. All very exciting as the program starts this month so fingers crossed for lots of good embryos for them. We are hoping for a long partnership with the school and for lots of students to fall in love with our Dexter breed. It is bound to happen as we all know how addictive they can be.
Lastly we had to say goodbye to our 17year old bull Usurper a few months ago, he was a lovely bull that had a good life. On the good side we still have the third registered Dexter we ever bred, a Dun grade two cow called Damolock Gypsy Luck, born on Friday the 13th twenty years ago this December. Told you this is a long lived breed. So I will post about Lucky's birthday in December she will have to have a cake or something. She has many generations of her clan around to celebrate with her as well as us.
Well that's all folks for now, I am out to enjoy this nice spring day Cheers Gillian