CDCA Newsletter September 2013

Unveiling of the plaque at Dundrum Dexter Gathering in Ireland

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Directors’ Reports Breeder Profiles Is the tattoo letter ………………………….…………...PG 2-3 ………………………...………………. PG 5 & 6

For 2013 From the Secretary Healthwatch …………………………………………..PG 3 …………………….………………….. PG 8

CDCA Newsletter September 2013

FROM THE PRESIDENT Adrian Hykaway

OFFICERS Well the trip to Ireland is over and the “Dexter Ded- show as we went to two more presentations from ication Plaque” is mounted on the wall at Dundrum Teagasc, the Irish agriculture and food development AND House Hotel Golf & Leisure Resort In Tipperary authority and Bord BIA, Irish Food Board, more Country just outside of the village of Dundrum. The about these at the AGM. After the presentation owner of the hotel, Mr. Austin Crowe and the Min- more visiting and conversation with Conor Cagney, DIRECTORS ister of Agriculture of the Republic of Ireland, Mr. the owner of the first place winner bull, Conor and President: Tom Hayes unveiled it. Ireland is an interesting his wife Freda sat with us at dinner the night before. country and it reminded me at times of the mari- They invited us to visit their farm but time had run Adrian Hykaway 13-21255 TWP. Road 544 time provinces of Canada. After the unveiling of the out and we went to Belfast on Friday after the Gath- Fort Saskatchewan, AB. T8L 3Z5 plaque there were refreshments and a meet and ering. Phone/fax: 780-998-7358 get acquainted with other attendees from Sweden; On Thursday was more of social, explore, and E-mail: [email protected] 10 people, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, experience some Irish history and Irish whiskey. Namibia, USA, Canada, and all of Ireland, south and Again after breakfast, by this time we were a little north. Yes, besides us there was another person : pickier about how we loaded our plates at breakfast Vice-President from Canada, John Maxwell, a very nice fellow, Brenda Pollard especially Rita, we were off to Carhalhalla Heritage whom we had never met before and didn’t know he Box 19 Edam, SK. S0M 0V0 Centre this place dates back to prehistoric Ireland was going to be there. He owns Dexters and is a Phone: 306-397-2663 and if you are ever in Ireland this is very interesting partner in a Toronto butcher shop, I think I con- Fax: 306-397-2610 place to visit. The only article remaining on the site E-mail: [email protected] vinced him to become a CDCA member if not I have a stone called the “Birthing Stone” it’s a hallowed Or [email protected] his business card. Later we moved to the banquet out stone believed to be used as a place were a hall for more speeches, getting closer acquainted woman gave birth and the baby was born into this and building friendships while enjoying an excellent stone and washed there. The surrounding land area Directors: long drawn out dinner that featured Dexter is quite large and is heart shaped with a large built Jason Beaton strip loin steaks as the main course. Before we were up flat mound in the middle where all the rituals 107 Nixon Rd served our steaks wait staff went from table to ta- Colpitts Settlement, NB. E4J 3B2 were held and on the surrounding banks was where ble taking our order for medium rare or rare and Phone: 506-372-9164 all the people sat to watch and take part. The guid- later a comment at our table was never had they E-mail: jason- ed tour was very interesting and there isn’t enough experienced steaks that were served so closely [email protected] room on this page to explain it all. We also signed cooked to order that weren’t over done or under up to visit a Dexter lunch at Killenure Castle; this Catherine Heinzelman done to so many people, about 200. We sat with a was not organized by the committee of official Dex- 4138 Brotherhood Road wonderful group of people, us three Canadians a ter Gathering but was just an off shot as part of the Quesnel BC. V2J 6P4 couple from the county of Cork and two gentlemen Gathering event and celebration, the only thing that Phone: 250-747-3864 from Galway. The conversation revolved around E-mail: [email protected] was pleasing was the Dexters in the paddock as the Dexters of course, but also covered all other things rest was poorly organized and well over booked, that are important; health, diet, children, grand Allyn Nelson over priced, and under fed. Hopefully the owner children, farming methods, cost of living, the same Box 2 Colinton AB. T0G 0R0 will learn better planning strategy and seek advice Phone: 780-675-9295 kind of conversation that would happen any where well before an event rather than a few hours be- Fax: 780-675-3369 in the world. After dinner we moved to a lounge fore. Later that event in the hotel golf club Venue E-mail: [email protected] area, an Irish singer and his accompanist on her Pub we experienced true Irish Dance, I can see why keyboard entertained us and there we met another some of the Canadian step dancer go to Ireland to Kevin Feagan Canadian couple who happened to just be visiting in 457 County Rd 121 fine tune their skills. Following the dancing demon- Ireland and I think were related to the owner of the Box 1051 Fenelon Falls, ON stration the local dance music band set up and the hotel. K0M 1N0 finely dressed local residents of the community Phone: 705-887-7305 The next day Wednesday, after an Irish breakfast, took to the dance floor. We did manage to get on [email protected] most anywhere you go in Ireland, the breakfasts are the floor several times as we also like to dance to big Irish breakfasts served buffet style, we met in good music but the floor got too crowded. Over the the banquet room for the presentations from the course of the time we spent there we did get to talk Newsletter attending countries. It was very interesting that with a lot of friendly people. I did get to quaff my Submissions to Rita Hykaway these countries are experiencing the same things share of Guinness and I must say that the com- E-mail: [email protected] we are; some are struggling to form associations, mittee of basically five people, Louisa O’Dwyer, maintain membership numbers; Australia dropped Kyran Colgan, Tom O’Dwyer, Michele Crowe, and Editor from over 700 to 400 members, but the commercial Collette O’Dwyer did an exceptional job of organiz- herds are growing, having a more diverse Dexter ing, coordinating, and executing a wonderful event, Brenda Pollard E-mail: [email protected] gene pool, staving off infighting within their organi- and they weren’t all Dexter people. Would we zation, controversy over short and long leg, horned attend again, that is a hard question to answer, but Website and polled, marketing, get the word out about how we’ll see. Catherine Heinzelman great the Dexter breed is, etc. E-mail: [email protected] There were Dexter and three other rare Irish Webmaster breeds (Irish Moiled, DroimFhionn, and Kerry) dis- Adrian Hykaway Simone Benjamin played across the river from the hotel, a show and judging of the cattle, the first place winners were a Dexter bull and a Dexter heifer. We missed the 2 CDCA Newsletter September 2013

FROM DIRECTOR: Cathy Heinzelman

Hello, hope your summer www.dextercattle.ca, as I has been a good one! We’ve do not have any experi- We have also included the had a long run of hot weath- ence at all with this tech- latest Herd book on the er here in Central BC and are nology other than to read website. Herd books have Thank You happy to see a bit of rain. sites. Our web person, always been offered to the

This has been a busy season, Simone Benjamin, is abso- membership on a ‘request’ and trying to keep track of lutely at home with the basis, mailed out free of We wish to give a big the work of a Director has work, and has changes charge to members. We thank you to the Jo- been challenging. In my ca- posted as quickly as possi- are interested to hear if it sephburg Agricultural So- pacity as Director in charge ble, I am grateful to have would be of value to our ciety in the County of of promotional items I have such a professional person readers to have the past Strathcona, Alberta for ordered fabric shopping to help us with this. editions scanned and add- bags, bright red with the logo ed to the site, or if we choosing to use grass/hay on the side. They are $5 One new thing on the web- should continue to mail fed Dexter beef burger each, which will include ship- site is to use the word ‘at’ them out upon request. patties Barbecue and ping. I have bought several instead of the symbol @ Community Garage Sale for my own use, great to de- when putting email ad- A committee will be devel- during the Country Classic liver meat and to take into dresses into ads. This is to oping specific policy on the event on the weekend of town, lots of folk have asked deter the cyber-bots that use of the website, as we May 25, also another big about the logo which gives have been developed to have discovered we need thank you to Viterra for me an opportunity to chat scan sites and flood with guidelines to operate with. sponsoring the purchase about the cows. Our Presi- spam once they’ve deter- If anyone has suggestions of the patties. The compli- dent has taken a sampling of mined email addresses. If please contact me at the various items off to Ire- you would prefer to use nstar”at”goldcity.net ments we received from land, look for his report on the @ symbol, just be spe- everyone that ate the his trip to the original home cific, otherwise, when you Respectfully submitted, burgers made Rita and I of the Dexters. read an email address with very pleased that you as the word ‘at’ you will just Catherine Heinzelman the Ag board made this I’ve also had challenges have to change it when healthy choice and for with the website, you send a mail. supporting a small local producer by using their FROM THE SECRETARY RON BLACK Dexter beef product. Much appreciated, Summer is quickly drawing to a close. I un- and on the celebration of my impending Adrian & Rita Hykaway derstand that most areas of the country retirement. That will be occurring about a have had a wetter summer than usual, ex- year from now at the beginning of October tremely so in some cases, which has been a 2014. Until then I will still be General Man- challenge for haymaking. I hope that in spite ager at CLRC. Beyond that, I have proposed newal notice from CLRC a little later in the of the challenges, you have been able to to the CLRC Board that I continue on after fall. enjoy some holiday time. Personally, my that date providing the secretarial services I look forward to the CDCA Annual Meeting wife, Sue, and I had the privilege of taking a that CLRC provides to breed associations, on November 9th in Edmonton, and hope to cruise on the Baltic Sea and doing shore ex- including the CDCA, and the Board is in see many of you there. cursions in the Scandinavian countries as agreement. That would mean that I would well as Germany, Estonia and St. Petersburg, continue to be the person acting as the Sincerely Russia. In Denmark, Germany and Finland, CDCA Secretary and Treasurer, which I am Ron Black those excursions involved trips out into the pleased about. countryside where we saw lots of beautiful I am pleased to see that the number of reg- and productive farmland, but did not see istrations of Dexters in 2013 is running any Dexters. ahead of 2012. In the previous Newsletter, President Adrian It will soon be time to renew your member- Hykaway reported on having attended the ship for 2014. Be sure to watch for your re- Canadian Records Annual Meeting 3 CDCA Newsletter September 2013

IRELAND TRIP The people are so friendly and helpful. Any time we were lost and From other side of the bed Adrian went in to ask directions; yes he actually does that some- Rita Hykaway times; they would come right out of the store or gas Irish Moiled Cattle 7 hours time difference, I always thought everyone was wimping station, go around the out, but it sure does hit you. It took the usual 3 days to get over, corner and point you in both ways. Air Canada didn’t help much being late leaving Edmon- the right direction, very ton on the way there and an hour late leaving Dublin for Toronto, nicely. on the way home, so we missed our flight to Edmonton, and had to The Dexter gathering wait about 3 hours for next one. people did such a good The left side driving was pretty scary but Adrian protected himself job of the 3 days, was quite well by driving very interesting and as far to the left as lots of talking. Was so he could, so many nice to see people there from so many different places, and the 10 people from at the castle Sweden was a treat, a couple of young fellows too, one of them where a meal owned Dexters. Was nice to see not all the people were old retir- was served ees. Was a surprise to meet John Maxwell from Ontario. after a tour. The cattle show only had, I think, 4 pens of Dexters, and some other smallish breeds, one young girl there with a Dexter cow and calf, parked cars every- had a ribbon, I think it was for the calf. We missed the judging part where, on the side- because of some of the presentations going on at the same time. walk as well, and The Presentations were interesting, the microphone had decided they park on either side of the street, no matter which direction not to work, and the people doing video presentations were at one they are coming from, just wherever there is room. Adrian did a side of the long table at the front of the room, so couldn’t always very good job though; we had no troubles at all except getting lost a hear them if they didn’t turn to face the crowd. . There was quite a lot because their streets aren’t all labeled the way they are here. bit of whispering going on when some of them were presenting, as Slow down at a corner to decide if that is the one to turn on and the they were hard to hear, and some people are a bit rude that way, speedy drivers behind toot at you, saying move it. The highway and don’t keep quiet. signage was great, but not the streets in the towns and cities, Bel- Adrian realized all that and decided to just talk from the paper copy fast was a disaster, one fellow who lived there said, don’t feel bad of his presentation and, as he said, use his outdoor voice. He stood people who live here get lost regularly. right in the center at the front of the room facing forward and did a The hotels were different too, no clocks. Our nice little travel clock very good job. Everyone was quiet and listened to him. We had a was at home in a bottom drawer. No face cloths, and the lighting, lot of questions from people afterwards as we were visiting around. they must have a lot of people staying there that don’t really want Catherine Heinzelman had sent some merchandise for us to give to see how their hair looks or if they have makeup on nicely. And away. We had put it on a side table, and Adrian mentioned it at the bed sizes, they don’t call them the same as we do, never knew what end of his presentation. I looked over there after a few minutes size of bed we would actually have. The toilets flushing on left side and there was only 1 magnet left, the bags, apron, T shirts, books, of tank took a bit hats and all the magnets but the 1 were gone. It disappeared short- of getting used ly too. to. Made us think, about how good we have it 17 month here at home, 3 clocks in kitchen old bull area, 1 in most owned by other rooms, 2 in Conor our bedroom, quite a supply of Cagney face cloths, and our lighting is near perfect as far as I am con- cerned, can see every wrinkle and brown spot. 4 CDCA Newsletter September 2013

BREEDER PROFILE Frank & Gail Stroeher

Gail and I terminated our jobs in Alberta approximately two years produce our own hay right here. The plan is to create more ago. We had visited Nova Scotia- Gail grew up near Windsor NS- pastures and expand the herd, find excitable prospects for our on a few occasions and decided that this province would offer the Dexter offspring that want to raise them and to deliver a meat best opportunities in our retirement years. to local consumers that is unsurpassed in its taste and quality. But what we are actually experiencing is a retirement in reverse. Other species in our menagerie are , ducks and tur- I probably have never worked as hard as I have in the past two keys. A week ago a duck hatched 22 little ones what a sight. years and believe it or not totally enjoyed it. After the purchase This is quite an astonishing number and is a joy watching her how she educates them and takes them around. Needless to say she is not able to sit on them all at the same time so the ducklings have to take turns. We don't use fossil fuels to work the land. Everything is done manually and with the use of a trusty Belgian mare that pulls logs out of the bush and plows the garden. We live in a very peaceful and pastoral place. We treasure our good fortunes and our health. Feel free to visit us. Let us know ahead of time so that we can be around. Frank & Gail

of our 65 acre property we did some brain storming to explore what we wanted to do with this land. Old pastures had over- grown with alders, wild roses, soft rushes and other nuisance plants. We started to cut those down and fenced some parts in electrically. First to arrive were the horses and then a shipment of a mother and calf pair of Dexters from a breeder in Ontario. These are wonderful animals so easy to handle and quite affec- tionate. On our marginal land and the pasture situation gradually improving, they seem to thrive on only grass and hay. My day starts with milking Buttercup, the mother cow, extri- The birthing stone in Ireland. cating about 2-21/2 litres of delicious milk that we drink raw and occasionally Gail turns some of it into Greek yogurt, abso- lutely splendid, and the best nectar that Mother Nature pro- vides. Now our little herd stands at 4. The youngest member happens to be a bull born March 13/13 and we need to find a new home for him. He is growing beautifully and is very handsome. We would have liked to keep him but breeding mother and sisters The plague is never a good thing and eating him is at this point unfathoma- that was ble. unveiled. The horses and the Dexters complement each other greatly in a way that our pastures only in the span of two years have im- proved vastly in quality. We still purchase all the hay from a farmer not too far away but the time will come where we can

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BREEDER PROFILE Bertha’s Bounty and Shorthills Dexters (Lisa Ayers)

I became a member in 2012 and am writing to you as requested in the bales available, only square. We didn’t have a square bale feeder; the newsletter to tell you about our farm and our journey into Dexters. hay feeders available were both too tall and were not conducive to Surrounded by the Shorthills Provincial Park in Fonthill, Ontario we horned cattle. We had to design one specifically for our small Dexters have a small acreage farm consisting of free-range pastured chickens and have it built & ready in 2 months. We found a local fellow who from which we sell eggs and will soon be a licensed egg-grading station. builds farm machinery and he did a fantastic job. Photos attached. Our 2 Great Pyrenees dogs patrol the acreage protecting the flock from One day we couldn’t find Jane, we called her and could hear a muffled predators. We currently have 8 Dexter cattle. “moo” she was curled up in the dog house! That was her favorite spot The farm encompasses two properties and is a partnership between for the summer until she out grew it. myself and my neighbour. We both work full time, me as a Funeral Di- When Cato gave birth to Jane it was at the farthest end of the property rector and my neighbour as a Librarian. We decided in about 2009 to over the escarpment on a warm sunny afternoon in the spring of 2012. put forth a business plan to get the properties zoned agriculture. The This past April, 2013, Cato was ready to give birth again, she made her business plan would consist of selling eggs, grass-fed beef, and eventual- way down over the escarpment and down in the valley where she gave ly heart nuts and honey. birth the previous year. We were watching her because a violent storm I was raised on this property with horses, the only experience with was brewing and would rather have her calve in the barn. She was un- cattle was a Holstein my Dad was taking care of for a neighbour for settled, lying down and moving to different places, the wind was picking about a year, I was10 yrs. old. It was my job to hand milk her morning up and the rain began. The whole herd was with her and it seemed that and night, so basically we have no real knowledge of cattle! they all understood the situation. I gently pulled her collar and said We read everything we could on cattle breeds and decided on the Dex- “come on Cato, let’s go in” she and the herd quietly walked with me up ter because they are dual purpose and because of their small size are the escarpment and back to the barn. The first stall she walked into was ideal for our small acreage. full of chickens that had taken cover from the storm. No she didn’t like A friend who raises Angus suggested starting with a bred cow with a that stall, she poked her head into the other stall… more chickens. She nursing heifer. I sent numerous emails looking for this combination and stopped and looked up at me, I ran in the stall and chased the chickens in August of 2010 a farm called Lover’s Creek near Barrie Ontario , out, and in she went, 20 minutes later, Shorthills Lord Galen was born. (about 2.5 hr drive) had Dexters and we set out to look at their herd. We currently are selling our grass-fed beef from the farm gate, and We took one bred heifer and one bred cow with a nursing calf. The own- hope to be milking Emma and Jane next year after they calve, ers said they were Dexters but not registered. At the time we didn’t care I’ve worked with them since they were born, touching their teats etc. about that small detail, we were happy to take them home! One thing I would like to see in the newsletter is information on hand Throughout the winter I read up on Dexter pedigrees and the processes milking, and how to teach the cows so they can be hand milked. The involved with AI, set up a private account with Eastgen and ordered my older cows have not been worked with and they are not receptive to first semen from a private owner. The semen she had was from being hand milked. They switch their tails and kick, it isn’t a pleasant “Riverhill Dusk Enchanter” and “Saltaire Platnium” Having read about experience for either of us! the historic nature of these two bulls, I thought the offspring should be I have some more questions such as…..How to tell if your bull is worthy registered, but I had to have the Dams registered first. I contacted Lov- of semen extraction. The process of obtaining semen from your bull, er’s Creek to see if they had any documentation. To my delight they did what you should and should not be feeding him. Who does the check for have a registration certificate from one of our cows’ parents! The cow, scrotum circumference, (Tempo) was from the late Patricia Freeman’s Braco line. I read in a re- teeth and leg degree? Alta cent article from Winona Crapp in the CDCA newsletter that one of Pa- Genetics in Alberta seems tricia’s cows, “Earlona Violet” was used as the logo for the Canadian to be the only ones that Dexter Cattle Association. Our cow, “Lover’s Creek Tempo”( CAN 4059) offer custom extraction. is from that line! EastGen in Guelph, Ontario That spring of 2011, Tempo had another heifer, and the other cow had a no longer does it. bull calf which we steered. To dehorn or not. A vet The spring of 2012 we had two heifers from our AI, “Shorthills Emma told me the horns are a Enchanter” and “Shorthills Midnight Jane”, they both have terrific per- way for the cattle to con- sonalities, and are nice to work around. We hope to eventually milk trol their body tempera- them to make cheese. ture. We have a red cow Spring of 2013 brought us 3 bull calves. Two of them are terriffic, one that was born polled, she is only half Dexter, sire unknown. I notice she from AI “Hiyu Saturn’s Warlord” and the other from “Saltaire Platnium”. really feels the heat, panting and just generally looking uncomfortable, They both have very different personalities, the calf from Saturn’s War- while the horned Dexters are calm and relatively cool in comparison. lord – “Lord Galen” is quiet & calm, and the Saltaire calf-“ Johnathan Could the horns be keeping them cool? Saltaire” is very light hearted and playful. I’ve taken him on walks along Should I be inseminating my cows every year or do they need a rest? with our dogs in the Shorthills Provincial Park that surrounds the farm, Tempo has had 4 offspring and she is only 5 1/2yrs old. he is so easy going, nothing bothers him. Both calves are in the process What to do about hoof trimming, not too many people trim cattle of being registered and will be for sale this fall. hooves where I am .I have trained my calves to lift their feet so I can The journey of owning Dexters has been both challenging and enjoya- hand trim in the future. Does anyone else have issues with this? ble. I’d like to share a few of our experiences; Lisa Ayers Our first two years we fed round bales. Summer of 2012 brought the worst drought in years, there was very little hay. Orders and payment for hay were taken ahead of time to secure supply. There were no round 6 CDCA Newsletter September 2013

Photos to go with breeder profile from Bertha’s Bounty. Top left and previous page: the feeder that Lisa de- signed.

Top right: free range chickens on Bertha’s Bounty and Shorthill Dexters. Middle: Shorthills Lord Galen and his dam, Lover’s Creek Cato Tempo’s Pride. Bottom: Lover’s Creek Tempo.

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This issue there was a request for information on Blackleg in cattle. There has been in interest expressed in the thoughts of other Dexter breeders and what they do or don’t do. Please respond to the newsletter and these will be printed in the next issue. Thank you to Chris Goertzen for his idea for this issue of Healthwatch.

Blackleg (aka gas gangrene) is a disease that is seen in livestock all over the world. Caused by the Clostridium chauvoei (a Gram-positive) bacteria, usually affecting cattle, and but has occasionally been seen in farmed bison and deer. Blackleg is a soil borne disease and develops rapidly in affected animals. Due to the rapid progress in the affected animal, death often occurs before the owner is aware there is any sickness in the herd. Most losses in cattle occur between the ages of 6 months to two years of age, but can occur as young as two months. Alt- hough blackleg can occur year round, typically cases occur during the hot and humid months of the summer and in cattle that have a high food intake level and are well conditioned. Recovered calf after Often no symptoms are seen; the affected animals are found dead without any previous signs removing all affected tissue. of being sick. Other times, one or more animals show symptoms such as a high fever, lack of appetite, depression, lameness and swelling that appear in the muscles on various parts of the body. Areas that can be involved are the legs, hip, back, flank, chest and shoulder, in the later stages of the disease, these areas of swelling spread and become mushy producing a crackling sound when pressed by the hand. This is because of the gas under the skin produced by the bacteria which is why it is also called gas gangrene. If noticed early then treatment if penicillin or other antibiotics in large doses. Therefore it is vital that a correct diagnosis is made. In the case of recovery, the affected animal may be stiff in the affected area sue to shrinking or thickening of the muscles. It is near impossible to keep the animals from coming into contact with the disease. The main control method is to build the resistance of the animals. This is done by vaccination or use of a bacterin. The most commonly used and cheapest vaccine is a 7-way clostridal vaccination. To burn the top layer of the soil is done to stop the spread of the disease. Should blackleg take an animal it is recommended that the carcass be burned or buried deeply with lime. Burn any contami- nated materials, this include feces. Disinfect any contaminated areas.do not do a biopsy on the carcass or feed the carcass to any other animals.

Definition of Gram-positive: Gram-positive bacteria retain the color of the crystal violet stain in the Gram stain. This is characteristic of bacteria that have a cell wall composed of a thick layer of a particular substance (called peptidoglycan). (From MedicineNet.com)

Sources: Wikipedia, Alberta Beef Herd Management reference and study guide.

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Thank you to those who submitted this issue. I, however, have been extremely busy with school bus route, getting into new classes at the school with my students that I SIZE MEMBER NON-MEMBER work with as well as the everyday goings on the farm. It 1/8 page 7.35 14.70 takes a while to get back into the swing of things. This 1/4 page 13.65 27.30 year I am sitting in on Grade 10 workplace math and 1/2 page 26.25 52.50 quite enjoying it so far. I know that I wish they offered Full page 47.25 94.50 this course when I was in high school. Business card 1 issue 7.35 14.70 Business card 4 issues 26.25 52.50 The garden produce has nearly all been harvested and Prices include GST what hasn't needs to be fairly quickly as we are experi- All ads are printed at the discretion of the CDCA Board of Directors encing freezing temperatures at night. Most farmers in All advertising must be PAID IN ADVANCE the area are finished their harvest or were close until the rain started at the beginning of the week (Sept. 29). Hopefully the weather will warm up again and those that are near done will be able to wrap things up. There has- n't been lots of rain, enough to settle the dust and stop combining and the cloudy days that followed haven't Please have articles to Rita Hykaway by: helped with warming things up and drying the crops. February 25 I must apologise for the delay in getting the newsletter out, but as everyone knows, sometimes things get put May 25 on the back burner and ends up being put off as soon as August 25 another job shows up. Initially it was waiting for infor- mation, and then it was trying to get the articles ready to November 25 be included between fixing fence and walking 5 steers This will help with how swiftly you will receive home one Sunday morning. They rubbed open a gate your copy. Thank you! and went to visit the neighbour.

I have a submission for the Health Watch for the next issue but am in need of breeder profiles. For the breeder profiles, please feel free to blow your own horn, so to speak, about what you are up to. Any new ideas for feeders that you have come up with, how you break Apron: white, with eight inch screened logo on bib …………..$20 your cows to milk or anything that you find interesting Bag: Unbleached cotton, Dexter patch ………………………………$10 about your critters that you might think will interest the BBQ Set: 12 piece stainless , plastic case ……………………………$32 rest of the membership. Hats: Ball—cotton, black or dun with Dexter logo ………………$20 Knife: Wood inlay handle, 2 3/4 inch blade, I haven't included a fun stuff section this issue but would in pouch, logo …………………………………………………………………..$15 like to make it a regular feature in the future. Some Shipping included in price, but price may vary. Please make cheque payables feedback on what your thoughts were about this section to Canadian Dexter Cattle Association. would be appreciated. I like word searches but would T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies available. like to include crossword puzzles from time to time in- Please ask for sizes that are available. stead. To place order, please contact Cathy Heinzelman Your Editor 4138 Brotherhood Rd Brenda Pollard Quesnel BC V2J 6P4 205-747-3864 [email protected]

9 CDCA Newsletter September 2013

GENERAL - The Dexter is a dual purpose animal with both beef set should be the same or greater than the height of the and qualities. In judging, both of these qualities are animal at the shoulder. essential. Cows – Udder should be well attached, high and wide rear COLOUR - Whole black, red and dun. All colours are of equal attachment, carried well forward. Teats of medium size, merit. A small amount of white is allowed but only on the well placed in the udder, hang plumb and are of equal underline, udder area, organs of generation and the tassel size. Strong medial suspensory ligament. of the tail. White forward of the navel should be strongly Bulls – well hung testicles of even size, scrotum long and discouraged. well away from the body. HEAD – Broad between the eyes tapering gracefully toward a SKIN – loose and pliable, hair short and sleek in summer, longer broad muzzle. Strong jaws with an even bite. Eyes bright and thicker in winter. and prominent. Nostrils should be wide and distended. Size WEIGHT AND SIZE - as dual purpose animals, Dexters should not of the head in proportion to the body. be overly short and leggy. Overly short animals cause milk- NECK - blending well into the shoulders, thick but not too short. ing problems and possible mating problems. Leggy animals Head should be carried well above the spine. lose the beefy qualities. Both extremes should be strongly HORNS - Dexters may be horned or polled. When not disbud- discouraged. ded, dehorned or polled the horns should be moderately Cows – at four years old, cows should not exceed 850 thick with an inward¸ slightly upward curve. Bulls should not pounds. Height should be between 36 and 44 inches at have as much of an upward curve as the cow. The removal the hip. of the horns should not be penalized in the show ring. Bulls – at four years old, bulls should not exceed 1100 BODY – Breast prominent, chest floor wide, well sprung ribs, pounds. Height should be between 38 and 46 inches at wide across loin, quarters thick and deep, broad hips, well the hip. Overly large and tall animals or extremely rounded fleshy rump. Straight level topline with the tail set small, short animals are to be strongly discourages as level with the spine. When viewed from the rear, tail should suitable breeding stock. Dexters in Canada are eligible run straight from the spine. Straight level underline. Good for registration in accordance with the rules set out in width between the front and back legs. Legs should be mod- the Canadian Dexter Cattle Association Constitution. erate length in proportion to body size, squarely placed un- NOTE: Guidelines are for breeding, selecting and judging der the body, wide apart and perpendicular when views purposes. from the rear. Feet should have short toes, be deep heeled, and level soled. The length of the back from shoulder to tail

“A” PHOTO CREDITS: Is the tattoo Cover: Adrian Hykyway Page 4 & 5: Adrian Hykaway letter Page 6 & 7: Lisa Ayers For 2013

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Canadian Livestock Records Corporation CANADIAN DEXTER CATTLE ASSICIATION FEE SCHEDULE Effective January 1, 2012 ADD 13% HST TO ALL FEES FOR RESIDENTS OF NB, ON AND NL ADD 12% HST TO ALL FEES FOR RESIDENTS OF BC ADD 15%HST TO ALL FEES FOR RESIDENTS OF NS ADD 5% GST TO ALL FEED FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL OTHER PROVINCES MEMBERSHIP Annual membership ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….$50 Annual membership for a new member or a member rejoining after a lapse of three years or more……………………..$25 Junior membership……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……$5 Associate membership (non-resident) …………………………………………………………………………………….………………..……………$50 Registration of animals: N.B. All male calves must be DNA typed in order to be registered. Males and females up to 24 months of age ………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..…$30 Males and females 24 months and over ………………………………………………………………………………………………..….………..…$40 Registration of CDN born animals previously registered in a recognized foreign association (including all transfers). ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………………..$25 Registration of a CDN born animal previously registered in a recognized foreign association (10 or more in the same submission) (including all transfers) ………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….....$15 Registration of an imported animal…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..…..…………$50 Registration or transfer of an embryo…………………………………………………………..…………………………..…………………...……..$15 Change of name of recorded animal …………………………………………………………………………….………….………………….….…….$30 Registration of a herd name (prefix)………………………………………………………………..……………………..……………………………..$20 Registration of tattoo letters……………………………………………………….…………………….…………………..………………..………..…..$20 Transfer of a herd name………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..…………………………………$25 Registration of lease……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….$30 Transfer of tattoo letters ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..$25 Transfer of ownership (live animals)……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………..$25 Transfer of ownership of 5 to 10 animals form same seller to same buyer in same submission……….………………….….$20 Transfer of ownership of 11 animals of more from the same seller to same buyer in same submission ……………$17.50 Each transfer of lease or ownership to windup an estate or where a parent takes a son or daughter into partnership, or where a son or daughter enters into partnership with a parent to one of his or her children, or forms an incorpo- rated company within an immediate family, or where a partnership is dissolved and a transfer made of the partner- ship animals to one of more continuing partners, provided there is no financial consideration involved…………$12.50 Replacement of lost or unobtainable certificates……………………………………………………………………………………………………$20 New certificates…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…$20 Reject fee …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…$15 Rush fee (except for export)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………$15 NON MEMBERS Fees are double that of members’ fees for all transactions Subscription to newsletter only ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... $15 IF AN ANIMAL IS SOLD BEFORE BEING REGISTERED, THE REGISTRATION AND EACH CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP IS CHARGED FOR AT THE REGULAR RATE. Fees are to be paid by VISA, Master Card, or by cheque or money order payable to: CANADIAN LIVESTOCK RECORDS CORPORATION, 2417 HOLLY LANE, OTTAWA, ON K1V 0M7 Telephone: (877)883-7110 or (613) 731-7110 Fax (613)731-0704 E-mail: [email protected] Internet www.clrc.ca

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