Most of you know that Carol Davidson, a long time Dexter breeder from Canada, recently visited our herd and also spoke at the National DCAI AGM earlier this month.

I am humbled by her comments.

"Your animals on the whole have some of the best attached udders I've seen in a Dexter, and you are to be commended.  Even the ones that could use some improvement have daughters with better udders, so whatever you are doing, it's working.   Congratulations."

Such praise from someone who really knows Dexters is amazing.  It certainly makes all of those tough decisions on which animals to keep and which to sell as we strive for breed improvement worth the heartache when Carol talks about our animals so positively.

Thank you Carol, both Mark & I appreciated your comments and enjoyed your company while you stayed with us.  You are welcome anytime you are in this part of the world.

OMG, I cannot believe that Rawlings Delta Blue was placed second in the Beef Interbreed at yesterday's Ulverstone Show.  The competition was tough Limos, Simmental, Hereford, Shorthorn and Galloway, but the judges based their decision on the type and breed standard for each of the breeds.  Congratualtions to Dennis and Alison who got Champion female with their Galloway cow.

Our Exhibitors Group of Three also placed second in the Interbreed as did our Pair of Animals under two years.  Their was strong competition and I am thrilled with the results.  The Shorthorns had very consistent groups and congratulations to Des & Denise, I am pleased to be beaten by such good animals. The group classes are about matching the type of animals you put together so that are of the same type and quailty.  The Judge's comments on our animals were very complimentary with one being "this exhibitor knows what they are doing with this consistent line of animals before us".  It has taken us 14 years to get to this point, but by consistently using our bulls for as long as we can and getting consistently good progeny it has paid off. 

We also had strong enquiries for our animals, even though we were around the corner in separate stalls due to our Johnes MN3 status.  This is something we will not compromise so to be on our own to protect the disease free status we have did not bother us in the least. Our trailer was parked near by and it has our stud name down the side so people still found us.

Thank you Ulverstone Show we had a GREAT day. Even the rain could not dampen our spirits.

I cannot believe the puppies are four and a half weeks old, they have grown so much, become so much more independent and developed real characters.

Here are their latest pictures in the garden.

We are off to Ulverstone Show this weekend, taking the three heifers, Delta Blue and her calf, and ET.  Should be fun!! Just the one day so not too much stress.

After getting home from the show and realising I had not taken any pictures of the three pups and seeing how much they had grown, I thought I better get my finger out. As they have their eyes open and are moving about now

Puppy 1 is the most nicely marked of the three with a big wide collar.  Puppy 2 is the lightest and the fattest.  Puppy 3 although the smallest by just 50 grams is still growing well.  They all have wide blazes and their fathers strong head shape.  They are for sale at $500 each, let me know if you would like one of these delightful boys as a companion or a working dog.  To good homes only.

Here are our little fellas.  Enjoy

Well the show is over for another year and we were very pleased with how our cattle performed.  They were very well behaved and we came home with a swag of ribbons, including both the Small Breed Interbreed Female and Bull ribbons.

Our junior heifer Rawlings Fable also took out the title of Junior Champion Female only just beating Goldshaft Faline.  Rawlings Delta Blue as always parades herself so well, the judge gave us very favourable comments including that she was one of the best Detxer cows he had seen in Australia.  She did have strong competition from Goldshaft Elsa who was not disgraced in the ring. But went on to win Senior and Grand Champion Female and the icing on the cake was the Small Breed Interbreed Female.  

Unfortunately their were no other Dexter bulls entered which meant Rawlings ET scooped the ribbons in the bull section, I would prefer competition so you cannot be quite so pleased with the result.  He also went on to be Small Breed Interbreed Bull.

We have decided to call Dimity's heifer calf Kirup Park Gingham.  She is a solid little girl who is running around with her mother in hot pursuit. It is nice to see such healthy calves, it must be that good Tassie pasture.

Well we are home safely from Burnie Show and I must admit I had forgotten how much I had missed staying at the grounds with the cows.  Mucking out, feeding, watering, grooming and of course the showing, I enjoyed it immensely!!  Thanks to Catherine Thomas who came along with her heifer Emma, I really enjoyed her company as well.

The results were not quite as I had expected, I thought Rawlings Fable is our better Junior but the judge liked Rawlings Fine Wine who was sashed Junior Champion Female.  I did comment to Mark earlier in the week that I thought Rawlings Emerald Skye would beat her full sister Rawlings Delta Blue and that is exactly what happened.  She was sashed Senior Champion Female and went on to beat Fine Wine to be Grand Champion Dexter Female.

Next week we are off to Launceston Royal Show, I love showing!!