Why Moos?

When we first arrived in Kiwiland, we travelled around in a campervan for 4 weeks. It was then that our fate was sealed by Mog.

We were on the Ferry from Picton (S.Island) to Wellington when Mog spotted a cattle truck piled high with white-faced moos. She asked where they were going and Mr Not (not being particularly good at child psychology) told her that they were off to be slaughtered at, what is known over here as "the works". Cue half and hour of sobbing from Mog

To pacify her Mr Not agreed that she could have a house cow when we bought a few acres. Yes, it could be called Wellington (Mog failed to see the irony of a beef cow called Wellington") and it could be a Dexter (her favourite cow - small cute and black!)

We never gave it another thought but Mog did... Two years' later, having spent ages acquiring title for the land, she collared a local Dexter breeder at an agricultural show and then proceeded to stalk her at every Ag' show that Season. When we first setting up a herd Mog insisted we phone this lady (whose number she had saved!) and talk about buying 'a couple' of Dexters. So, last July we took delivery of Faithful and Elegant ( pre-named!!) pregnant Dexter heifers.

Cos they are a rare breed here, Dexters are quite expensive so we make our money on White-Faces (ie Hereford X) and Angus X stock and use the proceeds to build up the Dexter herd which now consists of Daisy, her baby 'Alfie' (stud name Garnet), Elegant, Faithful, Grace and Geneva. By July when Ellie and Faith calf we should have 8 in Mog's herd! By crikey she is determined

I was a rabid veggie for 20 years (ironically, red meat doubles me up with abdominal cramps) but living in New Zealand makes vegetarianism pretty difficult so I have made a concession to eat fish and chicken now.) Breeding cows for the table is not really my thing. Luckily we don't have the space to keep them until death do us part so I can put the gory bit to the back of my mind, look after them as pets and sell them on to nice friendly farmers who will give them a happy and healthy final year The Dexters are a long-term investment and will be sold on to other owners of small-holdings to breed and home-kill for the freezer as they think fit. They tell me that this is the way in which the breed will continue.

In the meantime, Mog set her alarm for 5.30 this morning so that she could go down to the shed in the cool and halter-train, groom and cuddle the two new girls in preparation for next week's breed show. It is a pretty tall order considering the girls were only weaned last week and are new to being handled. The calves were given to her with showing in mind and she plans to troll around the country (with us in tow!) making her girls look pretty and promoting the breed.
I can just imagine her in 20 years time - The Barbara Woodhouse of the bovine world The other two children really don't get her but nod sagely and indulge their sister

Well that is the story of how a couple of poms were forced into playing farmers!