September 2024

Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? By Shelley Hatfield- WP Farm

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 Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle?  The answer is absolutely not! But you will need to be a little more prepared than farms who have several acres.  You will need to have sturdier fences for one thing.  Farms with several hundred acres have room for the cows to roam so they aren’t as likely to get out.  I’m not saying they don’t ever get out on large farms but it is not as often.  Smaller farms, the cows don’t have the room to roam.  You need to make sure that your outer perimeter fencing is strong and tight.  That can be barbed wire, woven wire, or the combination of both.  This will keep you and your neighbors in good standing….lol
 Land is the second  thing that I want to talk about. With Dexters it doesn’t take as much as with “full sized” cows.  It is 1.5-2 acres per TWO cow/calf pair of Dexters.  But that doesn’t mean that you can stick them on any ole grass and they will grow well.  You have to maintain your pastures.  That is what I’m in the process of doing myself.  I’m working to get my pastures into regenerative grazing.  Which will help with how well my pastures stay.  
 Thirdly, you will need hay, which is something that all cattle farmers need usually.  Unless you are in some states that you can grow it year round.  But you need to make sure that you have good healthy hay.  That is important for the health of your cows.  You don’t want them to get sick.  
 One last thing, keeping your animal healthy is an overall, big or little farm, thing you need to do.  I think as a small farm it is easier to keep a watch on things than a big farm.  You have a more intimate relationship with your Dexters when you don’t have 100s to keep an eye on.  
 I am a small farm with not alot of acres, that is why I chose the Dexters at first. But as time as went on, they are so much more that good for small farms.  But that is for another time.  
 So in conclusion, you don’t need acres and acres of land to raise beef cattle.  You just need to make sure what you have is the best that it can be. 

https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/livestock/raising-cattle/how-i-raised-a-years-worth-of-grass-fed-beef-for-practically-nothing-zbcz2201

The Beginning Farmer’s Guide To Raising Backyard Beef
Raising cattle on your own place
Raising Grass-Fed Beef (Pros & Cons)

https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/livestock/raising-cattle/how-i-raised-a-years-worth-of-grass-fed-beef-for-practically-nothing-zbcz2201

Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? By Shelley Hatfield- WP Farm Read More »

Beef

Selling Dexters by Sue Pollington

There is this thing that happens when you have Dexter cattle and really any kind of cows. It’s called cow math. The cows just keep multiplying and it’s all your fault.

In my Dexter journey this happens 2 ways. I got my fist Dexter cow, she had her yearling steer by her side and was pregnant. I thought cool, 3 for the price of one. Who doesn’t love a sale?

The new calf was born, another steer (not at birth but after a bit (was removed)). I know I’d have 3, but I didn’t know how much I would love being a milkmaid. I loved milking, processing the milk, and making all the fabulous dairy products. When the calf was weaned, my avocation as a milkmaid did too. No more dairy goodies and now I knew what real dairy was and I couldn’t bear to buy the junk stores have and call dairy.

I bought a second Dexter Milk Cow, with a steer by her side so I could milk year round with Spring and Fall calves. Now there were 5 cows. One steer went to freezer came and I was down to 4. Good for me. But then the new heifer calf was born and we were back up to 5.

Here I became foolish and bought a 3rd Dexter milkcow for emotional reasons. ( I did not need a 3rd Dexter Milk cow) She did not come with a calf at her side hooray. So, we were up to 6, I sold the heifer calf and we were down to 5. The new cow had a heifer calf and we were back up to 6.

It’s all my fault. I bred the cows, bought the cows. I will sell the new heifer calf and be back down to 5 but I have 2 calves due this Spring, but I will send another steer to freezer camp next month so I will stay at 6 until the 2025 Fall calf will make it 7 unless I sell 1 or both Spring calves.

Cow Math is real. So you will have to consider how you want to manage your herd size.

Sue Pollington

Selling Dexters by Sue Pollington Read More »

Farm Management Selling

Training a Dexter to lead.

By Sue Pollington

I have just been a Dexter owner for 3 and a half years now, but I have had to halter train 1 cow and 2 heifers. Luckily for me, I grew up with horses and it’s pretty similar although I think my Dexters have been far more willing and patient with training than horses.

I have also stanchion trained 3 cows. Beyond that I haven;t had to train much but I too have been trained. My Dexters have taught me they like affection and treats but mostly affection as they want pets whether I have treats or not. They have trained me that they would rather follow me than be driven from the back but will accept that too, but only if someone is leading as well. My Dexters like their routine and prefer if I’m on time but will forgive me after some complaint if I am late.

I have learned working with cows is a partnership. I may need to be firm but I shouldn’t be scary. Mostly as soon as the herd understands what I want they are pretty happy to give it. We all need to be respectful of each other and patient. A human will not win and may not even live in a cow fight so that must not happen.

On time my Dexter Milk Cow, Lacey, moved me to the wall of the barn. She was not happy with the stanchion training and wanted to let me know. She didn’t hurt me or smash me in anyway but I learned good lessons that way. If a cow loses patience, take a break and try again later. Lacey is now a pro in the stachion and we are both happy with that.

This is just my experience and what I wanted and needed to train in. My best advice is develop trust with you Dexters and work with them, not against them.

Sue Pollington

Training a Dexter to lead. Read More »

Selling

If You buy a trained Dexter milk cow….

By Sue Pollington

If you spend the money to buy a trained Dexter milk cow please define what you expect by this and tell the seller you choose.

Does this mean halter trained, lead trained, stanchion trained, milking trained, trailer trained? 

When I was buying my first cow, I wanted a trained milk cow that I could halter, lead, and who would stand to be milked and had been milked.  What I got was a cow pregnant with her second calf who has been milked, she could be haltered and would kind of be lead. She had never ridden in a trailer or been in a stanchion. 

This brings up an important point. Find out how a cow has been trained to milk. My first cow was trained to come into a milking parlor, go to a trough with hay and stand there to be milked while she ate. She was not tied or haltered for this. Luckily for me, my first cow had a great temperament, was patient, understanding and willing, so she would let me fail and we could both find a way to make it work together.

Just as you will be training your cow, they will also be training you.

Within our first lactation (milking season) together, my first cow and I got really good at leading, she learned to enjoy the stanchion, I learned to milk with lots of help from my cow. We have become very comfortable together and I am looking forward to her next calf in the Spring so I get to milk her again.

Sue Pollington

If You buy a trained Dexter milk cow…. Read More »

Selling

Buying an Irish Dexter. Part 2

By Sue Pollington

So, now you are ready to buy your first Irish Dexter. You have your land, fencing, a water source, a farm vet who makes farm calls (or a trailer to take them to the vet), a shelter, hay or a hay source, a mineral source and the money to buy.

Now you need to find your cow or cattle as the case may be and the confusion starts. What’s the difference between an Irish Dexter and an American Dexter? Are the white ones really Dexters? Do I want registered or unregistered? What registry is better?

Remembering I am not an expert, and I can be wrong. This is what I learned in my own Dexter journey. There is an American Dexter Cattle Association (which is the largest), a Purebred Dexter Cattle Association and many more that I won’t get into.  A registered Dexter is more expensive. This is because the market will pay a higher price to know the genetic testing, DNA and pedigree. But even with registration it doesn’t mean they are all perfect cows, if there is such a thing. I personally don’t care about registration yet I have chosen to buy registered Dexters because there is less chance of deception ie I know what I am getting.

I have a cousin, we will call him Dale who has cattle in MI and he claims if someone comes to him he sells them an Aberdeen and tells people they are the same as a Dexter (they are not) and Dale’s cows aren’t registered and most are mixed in breed. I don’t buy from Dale as I want to know what my cows are, Dexters. There are more people than just my cousin Dale pulling shady things in cattle sales just like with any animal sales. Buyer beware.

Find a reputable breeder, with references. Go see their place and their cows in person. It’s worth the cost. Or if you have a trusted friend who can do this for you, for breeders out of your area, ask them. I found a breeder about 2.5 hours from me and went to visit. .The breeder was open to visitors and she had a great place and super good looking cows that were friendly and approachable. She also wasn’t trying to sell me a cow but made it more educational as my first visit was for that and to see if I would even like Dexters. By the end of the visit I was in love and wanted to buy a cow. This breeder wasn’t sure if she had anyone for sale right now but said she would think about it and the kind of cow I needed as my first cow. I was looking for the unicorn of cows, trained to milk, bred, with a calf at her side. The breeder did offer me an ADCA Dexter at a registered Dexter price. I did not get the perfect cow but I did get the perfect cow for me as a 1st time cow owner, she was patient, easy going, was pregnant with a yearling steer included. She also didn’t have the perfect udder, it was good but she had large teets with small orifices. So she hand milks slowly. She was a great first cow and taught me a lot of good things. I was lucky to end up with her. I still have her.

Take your time, know what you want and be willing to either wait or compromise where you can. Make sure you feel good about the purchase as this is an investment. Cows are not cheap and if they are I want to know why.. Listen to the good stories and the horror stories and learn all you can. Get a cow mentor to guide you who is not trying to sell you something. Let me know if I can help. I am happy too. Good Luck. Getting the Dexters I have,, was a great choice and they make my life so fun. I wish the same for you.

Sue Pollington

Buying an Irish Dexter. Part 2 Read More »

Selling

Artificial Insemination at Stay’N Put Farm

By Eliena Bodtke, Stay’N Put Farm

AI tech Whit Ashe

Whit Ashe of Circle A Ranch in Savannah, Tennessee , has been our cowboy, AI tech and friend for over ten years now. Our nick names for him, include Man With The Golden Arm, Mr. One And Done and My Favorite Cowboy to name a few. But, wouldn’t you use those names to describe a perfect heifer record and he only had to come back twice for redos in 10 years. We recommend him for anyone in the area. But after several conversations, it appears that much of our success as team, is not just his technique.

Minerals

For both Circle A Ranch and our little homestead, Stay’N Put Farm, it started with the management program. We both use Vitaferm Concept aid minerals. Whit recommended these right from the beginning, including when we were doing live cover on and off. It is set out free choice for them to utilize at their pleasure. With the success rate like ours, proper nutrients to help them take with one attempt has to be one of the key components . Seeing others succeed when switching to it, seems to us to be part of one of the keys to success. But this is just one of components to this success.

Timing

Timing is very crucial as well. Each Dexter will have its own cycle. Ours are between 18 and 21 days. Signs of coming into heat differ from cow to cow. Some of the signs we look for are loose poops, change in behavior…extra sweet or standoffish behaviors. You will often times see the cows standing close to each other, one appears to be more affectionate than the others. These for us are the start of of the heat cycle and duly noted.

Next we watch for jumping or restless behavior. This could include a nursing calf, jumping on mom or behaving weirdly with mom. If you’re milking, you may see an appreciable drop in milk, we do.

This is when your observation skills are most important. Cows will jump cows. Cows will jump bulls. This behavior is referred to as bulling. If you only have one cow in your herd and no other Dexter or bovine friend, this can be troublesome.

It can help you know that a cow is in heat, but it can’t tell you whether it is in a standing heat.

Telephone conversations and texts happen with Whit Ashe when we see behavior changes, poops getting loose or a milk drop and then we keep in close contact until we are sure that we are in standing heat.

Standing heat

Standing heat is when the cow stands for anyone to mount her. It is at this point you should be ready. We try to AI within the next 12 hours…and close to the 12 hour mark.

When your tech arrives, you should have your cow either in the barn or in the milking stanchion or shoot. You will need to have your straw selected that you want to use. The tech will warm the insertion device, by placing close to their body…down their shirt. The straw will be warmed in a special straw warmer. Once it is thawed, the device will let you know and the fun begins. The attached video will show you what it typically looks like.

Whit Ashe has only had to make two trips back in 10 years, and I would have to say one was probably the semen , which is rare to have a problem with it and the other was my timing. We chased it…knowing it would probably result in a bull, but we were unsuccessful. As of the time writing this article we have only received two bulls by AI, and that was from another AI tech, Weston Williams. Whit Ashe has a perfect heifer record here, very hard to believe, but true.

Here is a video of it

Artificial insemination of a Dexter cow

Artificial Insemination at Stay’N Put Farm Read More »

Farm Management Herd Health
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