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Post by marion on Dec 31, 2011 10:17:05 GMT -5
In a small herd where the steers are left in with everyone else, dehorned is better. I have tried both ways, and the steers left with horns just walk up, go poke poke and have way more than their share of the space at the round bale..marion
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Post by gulfcapt on Dec 31, 2011 12:11:15 GMT -5
Rezz couldn't one use a rump strap on the yoke to keep it from comeing off in that kind of a situation were a bull or cow has no horns?
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Post by marion on Dec 31, 2011 13:08:03 GMT -5
Rezz, somewhere on this board (maybe someone remembers where?), there is a thread discussing the different types of ox harness..marion
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Post by rezzfullacres on Dec 31, 2011 16:25:44 GMT -5
Rezz couldn't one use a rump strap on the yoke to keep it from comeing off in that kind of a situation were a bull or cow has no horns? you could just not as effective and can cause a twist to the yoke...
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Post by cddexter on Dec 31, 2011 18:02:11 GMT -5
both kinds of yoke? c.
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Post by rezzfullacres on Jan 1, 2012 18:38:32 GMT -5
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Post by gulfcapt on Jan 1, 2012 19:41:32 GMT -5
Interesting reading! Thanks for the post
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Post by cddexter on Jan 1, 2012 22:59:49 GMT -5
typical. this thread started out about raising steers for BEEF. Now we have a horn afficianado using comments about OXEN to defend keeping horns. owello. c.
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Post by kansasdexters on Jan 2, 2012 9:23:42 GMT -5
Hi C.
Well said. Custom processors (for beef animals) prefer dehorned animals. We prefer handling and raising dehorned Dexter steers for beef. These steers are not pets, and we aren't specially training them to behave well with their horns. We are raising them in small groups (10 to 15 steers) on our best pastures to finish them properly so that they can be harvested at the right time to produce the finest quality grass-finished beef.
We have to load them on a trailer to move them from winter pasture to summer pasture. Because they are dehorned, we can comfortably move 6 to 8 steers at a time. If they were horned, we could move only 3 or 4 steers at a time, effectively doubling the number of trips to get them moved. More time, more trouble, more fuel = More expense. For steers that are being raised as beef, dehorning makes good sense in our situation. That's why we do it.
Patti
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Post by rezzfullacres on Jan 2, 2012 9:54:42 GMT -5
typical. this thread started out about raising steers for BEEF. Now we have a horn afficianado using comments about OXEN to defend keeping horns. owello. c. C; You were the one who brought up using horns to tell the difference between pets and livestock, I simply pointed out a single reason for horns, sorry if it does not fit into your thought process..Horns or no horns is a choice but just because someone does not agree with you does not make them wrong it just makes them not you....
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Post by dexterfarm on Jan 2, 2012 9:58:12 GMT -5
typical. this thread started out about raising steers for BEEF. Now we have a horn afficianado using comments about OXEN to defend keeping horns. owello. c. No this thread started out asking if they needed to dehorn steers kept with poled animals. and then you felt it necessary to post a jab at those who have horns. Many of us who took exception to this comment did not reply because we knew what would happen.
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Post by cddexter on Jan 2, 2012 11:28:58 GMT -5
this is like agruing religion, there seems to be no happy mediums, even though there's no right or wrong (unless you believe in a different one from me, and then I'm wrong for sure).
At least Dave now has opinions he can consider, and reasons behind the opinions, which is what he was after in the first place.
Like Patti and John P and me, and a number of others, earning one's income from livestock tends to color one's choices. If you just have a few cattle for fun or interest, and income is handy but not critical, your options are greater, and you have more freedom of choice.
And, Rezz...speaking of baiting/jabs, it didn't take you long to make it personal, and point out --in your opinion-- anyone who couldn't deal with horns didn't know what they were doing.
England used to have a class of member called 'smallholder'. Maybe we should start something like that over here.
At least we aren't talking Highland--boy, you'd be all over me if I suggested dehorning one of them ;D. c.
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Post by rawlingsdexter on Jan 2, 2012 15:14:32 GMT -5
We dehorn, and the reason behind that was that quite a few years ago over a Christmas break we placed a round bale of hay into a hay ring so that we did not have to feed and could enjoy our Christmas without worrying about the cattle. The next day we were showing visitors our cattle and noticed a first calver who was not due to calve for a further nine weeks off on her own and in labour. She had a big gouge mark up her side from a horn. She delivered the tiniest calf I have ever seen, he was only 12 inches long, weighed under 10 kg and couldn't stand for several days and when he did he was just below our knees.
Hence we took the horns off the whole herd as soon as they had calved that year, and it is funny because the cow who was the culprit was taken on by each of the other cows and put in her place.
I have also cows in confined spaces, yards, take to each other with their horns, not nice. Horns can also damage the carcases prior to slaughter and cause massive bruising, making the meat unsaleable.
Do you need any other reasons??
As for comments about people not knowing how to handle cattle with horns, that is down right offensive. There is no way I would get between two cows at each other with horns, and anyone who professes to know how to handle that situation, has obviously not been there.
I do wonder ::)why a lot of these threads end up having a go at each other?? I know different interpretation of the same words is a big problem, but sometimes I think people read too much into what is said. ;D
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Post by gulfcapt on Jan 2, 2012 20:51:09 GMT -5
Rawlingsdexter is right I think some read aliitle more into these threads then what was meant. Happy 2012 dexter owners ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Dahdo on Jan 3, 2012 18:53:47 GMT -5
I see this thread got busy while I was gone! I just got back from a few days away from the farm and the internet and was happy to see all the experiences and opinions posted on this topic--thanks. And now that the dust has settled, guess what? I decided not to buy those bull calves after all. Not because of horns--we just couldn't agree on a price and they were a few hours away. I do think I will dehorn if the situation comes up again. Just heard enough potential issues with a mixed (polled and horned) herd to make that an easy call for me. That said, I do like the look of a Dexter with horns, so who knows.
Thanks Dexter people--this is one place I know I'll get good information and some honest opinions. Cheers--Dave
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