In a Bulls Eye
Meet Carlos the Fourth. He is a 6 month old Dexter Bull. And he arrived yesterday at the farm.
He will never be a big bull but he sure will be a sturdy one. He is long legged, bright, well trained and very friendly (which may or may not be a good thing in a bull). He is in a side pen in the West Barn and in a few days he will go out to meet Aunty Del and Queenies Bobby through a gate and if all goes well he can go out with them by the end of the week.
His mother is a very good milk cow giving 3 gallons of milk a day which is pretty good for a Dexter, he is tested as A2A2 so hopefully if he produces daughters they will have A2 milk. A2 milk is widely discussed as being easier to digest and has other health benefits that I am still researching. Many people with an intolerance to milk find it easier to drink A2 milk.
All goats milk is A2.
New Zealand has been a leader in the field of A2 milk research and there has been a lot of work done at home to increase the numbers of A2 carriers in the big herds. But it is a complicated discussion at best. Most big herds are A1. All the modern Holsteins are A1. 
Carlos IV has some growing to do before he starts work but I like the idea of breeding Dexters and if he can have a go at covering the other cows I would be grateful. The Dexter heifer Alex, who is bred already, arrives on Wednesday.
Manu the Hereford boar is deeply underwhelmed by his new flat mate. As long as he does not touch Manu’s vegetables all will be well in that department also. 
This boar is NOT being overfed – he is a big fella though still very good with me.
When I feed him I go into his pen and pick up bowls and scratch him around a bit while he is eating, I have done this every day since he arrived so he knows who I am and that I am the boss and bringer of food. No-one else is allowed in the pen with him.
But with boars and bulls one goes on full alert if there is an animal in heat around. This is why the boys are over in their own barn so I can maintain some semblance of control. And choose when I put animals together. It is easier on ones fences that way! 
These will both be hefty animals – I want no surprises. But I do want babies. He will probably come over and run with the girls for a few months in the summer.
I wish I could leave Aunty Del over with Lady Astor at the home farm but Aunty will not leave Lady’ s udder alone. And Lady has a very nice udder that we do not want damaged. This is why Aunty is in the boys barn for a while. She might be bred you know – I have seen no untoward behaviour.
It is possible that I will get my wish and milk three cows next summer. Maybe.
I hope you have a lovely day!
Love your friend
celi
42 Comments on “In a Bulls Eye”
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Such a handsome boy!!
I learn something every day from your blog, who knew about A1 milk and A2 milk not me for sure! Your new boy looks very handsome. Have a fab day 😊
He looks very handsome. I’m sure a friendly bull is a good thing – you don’t want to have to walk around with a red cape 😉
I am sure that you are doing things the right way; making your boys associate you with good and pleasant things rather than sticks and raised voices. Carlos is a very pretty boy – in fact, all your animals are attractive!
As the horsey people say, he has a soft eye 🙂 Looking forward to meeting Alex too. Laura
Finally arrived! A great welcome to the bull. To Carlos IV. Such a young boy still. His eyes are looking so warm and friendly. Like him. Yes. Immediately. I wish both of you having a very happy settle down, that he’ll get accustomed to you, the place and new surroundings and to his new mates soon. – Looking forward to telling us more obout the background of that A2 milk after having done your further research…
And for the arrival of Alex: What an exciting week lying ahead of (?) us!
Have a nice day, Celi!
It’s such fun being taken along with you as you add to your collection of farm animals. It’s going to be fun to watch Carlos grow. Can’t wait to find out if you do, indeed, have three milking cows next year!!
I love his sweet face. He is small, you so much smaller. I hope it all works out as planned and you get your milk. I have used milk in cooking on occasion but today I learned a lot about milk. I’ve never been able to drink it or even eat ice cream. I pay for it if I do. I LOVE ice cream, it doesn’t love me. Thanks for the lessons I learn here every day. Have an extra special day.
Exciting news at the Farmy – almost a population explosion! I hope Carlos and Alex settle in well and get along with all the other inhabitants.
Enjoy your day.
love,
ViV xox
What a bonnie lad! I feel better about you and Carlos than you and Manu. We used to borrow a boar for our sows. The first year he was grand but the second he was a brute. He was very UGLY though, so who knows, maybe he had a chip on his shoulder! Manu is quite handsome, so perhaps he’ll be chip-less!!! (Not too keen on the look in his eye however!)
Christine
A handsome chap. My aunt had a small herd of Dexters who were mostly well behaved but every now and then they went completely bonkers (rather like her!).
“As long as he does not touch Manu’s vegetables” is that a euphemism?
what a lovely bull! As always I begin my days with you- have a lovely day today and especially on Thanksgiving! Cheers!
Love the new guy on the block! He is beautiful. I do hope he settles in and treats Manu’s veggie with respect!
I never heard of A2 milk, we only get the plastic stuff. I wonder if I could tolerate it? Must check to see if it is available in these parts. Carlos IV is very handsome and I am sure the ‘girls’ will enjoy his efforts! Stay warm and take care, we do not want any nasty surprises either.
Carlos IV. Of Ireland, not Spain! Well I’m sure he will grow to be quite handsome but for now I think he is cute-see woot-see. He looks like he’d like a good tickle under his chin the way my Arthur cat would.
Carlis IV was a king in spain, if I remember rightly he was given rather a hard timme by Napoleon B, though i need to go back and read more about that period again. Small but powerful. My Carlos. c
Welcome to the Farmy ~ Carlos!! You’ve come to the best home in the world!!! you will have a great time roaming around with Celi’s farm Buddies!! He’s a nice looking guy!! Anxious to see him all grown up to a “man”!! Looking forward to seeing Alex ~ the Farm is growing! Interesting to read about your research on the milk ~ growing up on the dairy farm I didn’t know that info ~ but I’m sure Dad did. We must’ve had some pretty good milk because Mother’s peach and apricot cream pies were utterly delicious! plus apple pie! and all the fresh whipped cream on desserts!! And all of our Kitties were always waiting at the barn morning and evening for their fresh warm milk!! Nothing like the good ole days growing up on the farm!! Have a good one!!
Udderly delicious. Heheh. Love, Gayle
Carlos looks like a lovely healthy young bull. I’m sure the babies will be amazing as well. Thanks for the education about the milk. I never knew. Have a lovely day.
Another conversation piece from stolen farmy fotos. https://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/conversation-piece-2-2/
Carlos is so handsome .. Welcome to Celi’s place 😃
Awww, baby….welcome.
A natural balance to have some boys and girls… and the natural way of things to have their progeny underfoot. I enjoy the seasons and cycles… the projects and plans. It’s a farm, business and good life all rolled into one.
Jeepers! I am always learning from you Celi. I did not know about A1 and A2 milk. All I know is the recommendation for replacement milk for orphaned Daisy deer was Goat’s milk, which I understand is a universal milk replacer for many mammals. What a handsome fellow Carlos IV is. I think his eyes look kind. I am very respectful of the bulls over in the neighbor’s pecan orchard. I take the fence line when walking to the river. Those bulls don’t look any too friendly if you ask me!
How fantastic to be planning for A2 milk, and to have the mating bureau almost up and running. I can just see you there, playing god(fess), deciding who can date whom. Fun and frolics ahead, without a doubt.
What a handsome fellow.
Both our children were adopted…we were present at daughter’s birth and got son at one day old. I was counseled by a wise friend to feed them goat milk 1/3 with water 2/3, closest thing to mother’s milk. They thrived. Lots of love, Gayle
Lovely! c
Oh Celi, this feels like another stage. Another giant step forward. I appreciated learning about A2 milk. When we were very young, mom brought goats into our lives (which we moaned over having to milk!) because she, the school marm, and the public health nurse were determined to help rural mothers with colic-y babies. Goats milk settled tummies and helped mothers get some rest.
Goats milk is truly the best – pity they are So noisy!! c
A2 milk is hugely popular in Australia: about half of the supermarket milk fridge seems to boast the nomenclature – now I don’t usually go for what I consider ‘fads’ but bought a couple of litres last week [longest use-by-date . . . well, I don’t have even one cow to milk 🙂 !] and it ‘kept’ fresh awfully well and actually had a lovely taste . . .
I’ve read the wiki article on A2 milk – it’s quite interesting. –
Eha, I did not forget you! I haven’t got the time yet … So sorry. But: Soon! 🙂
Hi Celi, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I want a calendar and a book. I hope it’s not too late. Take care!! (:
Merridee
Just fine Irmi! Now I know you did get my little ‘missive’ please do not go out of your way . . . . truly!!
What a beautiful little guy your bull is. He looks insanely young and a bit sweet, but of course, it’s hard to get scale from the photos.
He is only 5 months old – but the Dexters are a very small breed.. the poor mans cow!
It’s amazing to watch how the farmy has grown and evolved during the past few years, Celi. Carlos IV may be the newest member but we all know he is far from being the last. 🙂
What a lovely Thanksgiving arrival! (And Carlos is quite handsome. Sturdy it best….and friendly in a bull to me is a good thing – they all get a bit rowdy as teenagers anyway….still watch your feet!)
How interesting about the milk types – i will have to look into that. My brother with all the allergies could only tolerate goats milk as an infant in WW II. He had a terrible time and mom was sure he would starve to death before they would find something he could tolerate. Neither one of them do well with anything with cow’s milk….now I wonder about this A-1 and A-2 thing. In an attempt to breed “better” cows have we also bred poorer quality milk? Heritage cows as well as heritage vegetable should be the new goal?
Hope you, yours, and all the farmy have a lovely day for Thanksgiving ( farmers never get a day off, but they do have that lovely farm)
Three cows to milk!
I’m really excited to read about your latest venture! I looked into Irish Dexter’s many years ago – decades ago – actually, several decades ago – crikey I’m old! – but was put off by the genetic issue/uncertainties. If you’ve decided to breed them, I’m guessing that problem has been bred out and is now a thing of the past? Wow, you’ve got me thinking about raising cattle for the first time in ages 🙂
Go for the Long Legged Dexters! That is what I have brought in. The short legged ones seem to have the dwarfgene. These ones are also polled so I think that must be the result of some other genes being merged. True old Dexters have horns. But they are small! c
A handsome young bull. Manu is a nice-looking boar.