We decided to have most of our girls re-classified yesterday to get them all onto the new electronic format.

Almost all of them have improved their scores, with some notable increases.
Kirup Park Ulinzi is now VG88 along with Rawlings Bohemian Rhapsody. Rawlings Apricot Ice, Rawlings Delta Blue and KP Angelica all are now rated at VG87. Rawlings Absolute Gem and Rawlings Chariot of Fire have moved to VG86. Our first lactation Blueprint daughters all classified highly, Rawlings Emerald Skye at GP82 and Rawlings Ellie Mae and Rawlings Eva Diva both scored GP83. Along with one in Victoria who scored GP84, it just shows the consistency which is coming through in his genetics.

But most pleassing for us is that 11 of the 23 girls have a score of 90 or above for Dual Purpose Character, with 8 of the others having a score of 87 or above for this same trait.

The bulls results were also very pleasing with Rawlings Blueprint going to VG87, Rawlings ET who is just over 2 and a half scored VG85 and KP Esquire who is a month over two was rated with VG86 scoring highly for feet and legs which is an area we need to improve.

All in all I am very pleased with the outcomes, particularly when you can see the focus we have had on width, length of rump, udders and our dual purpose character is being reflected in the scores.

Just a quick note to let all know that we have a new cow-girl in the family.  Graeme and Jessica have just had a precious little girl - Sophie Ella-Maree, born 13 February.  She is our first grandchild.

I will be going to WA on Friday and will not be back for a month.  So doubt very much Mark will post any blogs, he struggles to turn the computer on. 

Lots of news to share when I get back.

We have had to laugh over the last couple of weeks, our 5 female piglets have learnt how to climb.  They run up the slope of their shelter and have now discovered that the corn growing in the raised boxes next to them is delicious.  The things that go on at our place, life is never dull, I can assure you of that.

Also Mark has started on our stone barn conversion.  The barn nearest the house was in desparate need of some TLC and we thought it would make awesome barnstay accommodation.  So we have had to replace the walls which were just rotten timbers somehow miraculously still holding up the roof. Mark thought of blocks for the structural walls and then they will be faced with stone.  I was lucky to find a matching set of character windows in a salvage yard, so the project was set to go ahead.  Can you picture the end wall with the roof just on props and the news of an approaching cold front coming, I have never seen Mark work so fast.  Blocks are back up on the end wall, so all is good which was a great relief.  I think this is going to be a longer term project than he thinks, but will ultimately give us two units for when friends come to stay or for paying guests down the track. One year is the timeframe to complete the exterior and one unit inside, we will see how it goes!!

_Fertility is the key to productivity and I am so proud to be able to put together a line up of cows like these.  All are sired by Rawlings Blueprint, one is on her second lactation and the others are all first calvers.  Here is the story on how we got there, time and hard work, but boy am I thrilled we worked at it and never lost sight of the end goal. If you want to learn the principles behind our decisions, don't miss the Field Day.

"Attending a Field Day 14 years ago in Gidgegannup, Western Australia, certainly influenced the breeding direction for Mark & Margaret Rawlings in their Dexter stud.  There Margaret met Peter Chilcott from Supergene who explained his theories on fertility, the importance of the female line on maternal traits, femininity in females and the importance placed on the dams of bull calves.  The careful consideration of these key points has seen the Rawlings be able to breed a line of cattle consistent in type and exhibiting all of the traits sought after in highly productive cattle.

They are now showcasing 14 years of breeding their dual purpose cattle with an on-farm Field Day being held on Sunday 22 January with their guest speaker Mr Peter Chilcott, from Supergene.  Their farm is at 1599 Preston Road, Preston, 20 kms inland from Ulverstone in North West Tasmania. 

A focus on fertility for all breeds of cattle is the theme for the day, which then equates to more profitable farm enterprises for farmers.  The dairy industry, and also the beef industry to a lesser degree, has issues with cattle being less fertile than they would desire and the impact to their bank balance is significant.  If commercial producers only can grasp that major point from the Field Day then they will go away with a different thought process on how to improve dollar returns per acre.

The theories hold true to all cattle and cattle breeders are encouraged to attend to see the results first hand." 

Wouldn't we all like to see cattle like these in our paddocks!!

We have organised what promises to be an excellent opportunity to listen to Peter Chilcott - Principal of Supergene, deliver a Field Day focussed on Fertility and Structure. 

I first saw Peter in May 1998 and he had a profound affect on our breeding directions with some of his theories.  Focus on maternal characteristics, and breeding decisions that emphasised productivity and fertility.  He covered topics of meat palatability looking at flat bone, soft pliable skin, greasy spine and high fertility.  For every thought he put to us, I was confident that Dexter fitted the bill.

I am convinced that our improvement in herd quality and udder structure can be attributed to what I learnt that day way back in 1998.

So if you want to have this opportunity to come along and learn, make sure you put aside the date of Sunday 22 January.  All the details are on the flyer below.  We look forward to seeing as many there as possible, and make sure you "Don't Miss Lunch".  RSVP by email rawlingsdexter@westnet.com.au or phone 6429 1287

KP Billi Vanilli has finally calved today, one week after KP Angelica.  They were both AI'd with the same semen on the same day, but it just shows the variations in gestation.  I must say I am impressed by the consitency of these two heifers, both are long in the body and wide in the back end.

Anyway Billi has given us a polled black heifer, well I think it is polled she won't let you that close.

She will be named Hannah Montana, I know it is corney, but you get that.

It has taken a couple of days, but we have decided to name Angelica's calf Georgia.  She is a little sweetie and allows you to pat her in the paddock.  I am hoping that a daughter of a friend who has taken a keen interest in cattle handling might show her as they share the same name.  It might be double lucky for Georgia.

Billi is swishing her tail this morning, maybe although I am not counting on it, she might calf

Well after quite a few days of calf watch and nights I might add, Angelica has finally calved.  A polled black heifer born about 10 am this morning.  She is by AI to Bircham Ballantyne and the first calf we have sired by him in the KP herd.  She has got to be one of the longest calves I have seen born and extremely wide hip, thurl, pin.  I am waiting for Sue to name her, so stay tuned.

Billi is still fat and ready to pop, hope she does not take too long as we have hay to bale and cart, so a very busy time here at the farm

We also have Cameron and Fenella Sept arriving from WA on Sunday, so it would be nice to have all our farming jobs wrapped up by then.

Kirup Park Freedom who was due to calve on Christmas Day has calved this morning, a polled red bull.  She is currently cleaning him and he is trying to stand up.  We will see what he grows like.

KP Angelica and KP Billi Vanilli are also due on Christmas Day, if they are in calf to their AI with Bircham Ballantyne semen, Angelica looks closer than Billi but we will have to wait and see.

I will let you know what we get, we are staying home for Christmas to keep an eye these two cows.

Mark has gone up the paddock to mow our hay crop, so that will be great to get that all baled and in the shed between Christmas and New Year.

Well Gizmo is going so well, he decided this morning to pose for pictures.  And embracing the Christmas Spirit he looked extremely cute as a reindeer.  I wonder what Cue-tee thought!!