The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Rosemary on May 29, 2012, 09:09:41 am

Title: Photo of George
Post by: Rosemary on May 29, 2012, 09:09:41 am
Here's George and Breeze
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Bionic on May 29, 2012, 09:16:21 am
Oh Rosemary he is lovely   :thumbsup:   . You must be so pleased
Sally
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Brucklay on May 29, 2012, 09:22:32 am
That's a lovely picture Rosemary - they look super.
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: tizaala on May 29, 2012, 09:53:37 am
Nice animals , looks good beef already. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Rosemary on May 29, 2012, 09:59:25 am
We are really pleased with him. There is now the possibility that he may have a season or two as a breeding bull before the chop  :)
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Mammyshaz on May 29, 2012, 08:53:26 pm
That's a lovely pic of mother and son  :thumbsup: there's no doubting his colour now, he's lovely.
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: HappyHippy on May 30, 2012, 07:58:24 am
He's a handsome young fella for sure  :thumbsup:
Fingers crossed he gets the chance to sow some oats  ;)
Karen x
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Rosemary on May 30, 2012, 09:40:02 am
We've decided to keep him entire and sell him as a bull. He will be registered as Rosedean Sirocco.
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on May 30, 2012, 11:07:01 am
Lucky George :-)) He has a bright future to enjoy then! He is very striking and lovely! :cow: :yum:
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: goosepimple on May 30, 2012, 11:10:34 am
 :o  Oh dear, the chop, look into his Disney eyes Rosemary  8)  Gorgeous though, and must be a relief now that he's born (for you and mum), well done.
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: VSS on May 30, 2012, 12:25:32 pm
We've decided to keep him entire and sell him as a bull. He will be registered as Rosedean Sirocco.

Isn't it a bit early to tell if he will make the grade?
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Rosemary on May 30, 2012, 02:51:08 pm
VSS, with Shetlands at the moment, it's a bit of a numbers game and genotype is at least as important as phenotype.

There was vast overuse of a few bulls in the past (and recently  :-[ ) so there was a bit of a genetic bottleneck. Because we used a, AI bull that was completely unrelated to the problem bulls and produced a bull calf of an unusual colour (but one of the traditional Shetland colours that was all but lost when everyone decided to select for black and white), he is genetically useful to the breed.

We had intended to castrate him, but on the advice of the breed society, we're making him available for one breeding season, during which he will cover a small number of selected cows with suitable genetics.

Hopefully, he will also turn out to be a good example of the breed in terms of the standard and in temperament.
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 30, 2012, 04:22:54 pm
Thanks Dot & Rosemary - I had wondered, not wanted to offend... Now very glad to hear the reasons why - which is pretty much what I assumed but it's good to see it written up. 

Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: sabrina on May 30, 2012, 04:50:32 pm
smart looking boy  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Fowgill Farm on June 07, 2012, 10:01:37 am
What a cracker, love them at this age, our summer batch of a dozen calves (just black & whites) have arrived  and they are such funny things, they follow you along the hedge and i have to walk thro them to some of the pigs at feeding time, its a right battle coz they think the buckets are for them being ex dairy offspring. Sometimes have a chase on my hands. Clover pig likes to round them up, she's so funny because they follow her everywhere and lick her, Yuk.
Enjoy your baby Rosemary, sure he'll be well spoilt.
Mandy  :pig:
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Victorian Farmer on June 07, 2012, 10:41:25 am
he is very nice ..very good stock
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Factotum on June 09, 2012, 01:03:01 pm
He's a beauty, I do love them at this age. Do you think he'll be the same colour as his dam?

We've noticed that our calves with dark colours start out looking black, but quite quickly turn brown. After a few months, they begin to turn black again.

Ours run about the field in a small pack, waving their little white flags at the end of their tails, playing various 'tag' type games. They seem to like to chase things - each other, wild birds, the ducks...

Have fun with him whilst he's small - they do grow quite quickly.

Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: Rosemary on June 09, 2012, 05:03:09 pm
I think he will stay dun - it seems to be quite a dominant colour, now that it has finally reappeared in the breed.

Do you have Shetlands, Factotum?
Title: Re: Photo of George
Post by: princesspiggy on June 11, 2012, 11:32:05 pm
hes gorgeous    :thumbsup: :love: