[Sylvia]

Hello, I'm Sylvia from South Devon. I have four acres of my own and the use of three acres from a friend. I have, at present,six fattening lambs, three Berkshire pigs for porkers and various poultry.
I have so much grass, much more than the lambs can eat and am wondering if I could manage a couple of Dexter (or similar) steers on it. I would hate to get them then realise I haven't enough grass for them.
There is a lot of long grass that the sheep ignore and I don't want to keep paying someone to top it for me.
What do you think?

[JulieS]

Hi Sylvia, and welcome from North Devon.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Dexters, but I'm sure someone on here will be able to help.

Julie

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome - we haven't had any new members for ages!

Don't know the answer to your question, but I'm thinking about getting a couple of dairy bull calves in the spring, bucket rearing them and killing them off grass in the autumn as, well, grass fed veal / baby beef, I suppose. Haven't thought it all through yet (or discussed it with OH) but the calves are "waste" products from the dairy industry and it migt be worth kicking around. The carcase won't be great in terms of conformation but I'm sure it will taste OK.

[Hilarysmum]

Hi and welcome.  I think anyone who can cope with cows is heroic.

[bibs]

Hi. I have 6 dexters which we run on 3 acres of our own and three acres of loaned land. I can't speak too highly of the Dexters. They are tough cattle able to brave the worst of weather here on the coast in Dorset. The beef is just superb and lots of it - we pay for the grazing in beef aswell. We feed them 2+ bales of hay per day in winter. Also a little of our land is given over to poultry and 2 sometimes 3 pigs so they don't quite have the entire plot. I think you could cope with 2 steers.
Good luck !

[Tullywood Farm]

Hello and Welcome from all at Tullywood Farm.

We don't keep cows but if we did it would be Dexters or Highland - we have talked about getting one, but I know Joe cannot stop at one of anything, so holding back.

To get rid of the long grass we have some goats, ordinary and pygmy goats, which will eat the long grass if they cannot get to trees and hedges.

The other thing you could do is have it topped or strimmed and use it as bedding for the pigs and hens in the winter.

If you do get Dexters pleeessee show us some pics and let us know how you get on

Julie, Joe and Tara

[Sylvia]

Thank you for your replies. I am also looking at Shetland Cattle.

[sandy]

Hello, welcome to the forum, enjoy!!!! I'm sure you will

[Rosemary]

We're going to visit a breede of Shetland cattle on 20th September - they woudl be my preferred option. Her website is www.westmossside.com.

[Troubled Waters]

Hello!