Speaking of strange predators

[kstaven]

We have one here that is soon to meet her demise. It is a Dexter cow that has decapitated and stomped to death almost every one of our Buff Orpingtons. This cow has been a nut bar and aggressive since day one but never touched a chicken until a few days ago. Now she chases them down and kills them on sight.

Locking chickens up did not work as she just broke the fencing down. BTW this is game fence that is normally used along the highways to keep Elk and moose off the roads with 6 inch round posts.

So almost 50 Orpingtons gone and years worth of selective breeding down the drain. Those steaks had better be really good quality after this.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

That sounds like a cow that needs to be culled to me. I would be serving steak at the next cookout instead of chicken.

My horses are fascinated with my turkeys. It hasn't turned aggressive, at least not yet...

-Kim

 

[silkieluvr]

I agree with Kim, now to plan that bbq...

 

[Cara]

After all the 'Dexters are wonderful' posts this is a lot more similar to my experience of them. A friend had one cow that was so aggressive they had the vet out to euthanise her, and the only way he agreed to do it when he saw her was to shoot her long range from over the fence.

 

[joebryant]

I think your little Dexter cow must be part bear. Sorry about its killing your buff Orpingtons; that really is a shame. The cow must have really had it in for the chickens to have demolished such a fence to get to them. Wow!
Bon appetit!

 

[kstaven]

I already have plans for the BBQ and the meat smoker. Bad Dexters are far more common than breeders would have one believe. At least that is true around here.

The biggest problem is they are popular and that means $$$$ so people breed for quantity, rather than selection for temperment. It happens with almost every breed at some point.

People read the cute stories in publications and buy dexters and then end up in the hospital after the cow tries to take them out. I've been around cattle my whole life and have hit the point with what I am seeing inside the dexter community and what is being bred by many, I would be hard pressed to recommend a breeder now.

The "dual purpose" element is a real joke with many of the lines out there.

 

[Cara]

We have temperament issues with just about any black cattle. My husband is convinced that anything 'miniature' usually has a bad disposition, so I am glad we don't have to deal with the two at once!

ETA I grew up in England; if you can't find a nice Dexter there, it has to be a breed issue.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Very interesting.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Isn't that the sad story of many "dual purpose" animals of today?

-Kim

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
Isn't that the sad story of many "dual purpose" animals of today?

-Kim

Just another example of what happens when quantity wins over quality. Something that has permeated our society at every level.