We’ve all seen the push to remove red meat, and especially beef, from our diets. But, is that actually the answer and are the alternatives any better? This article below talks about some of the nuances of beef production and the alternatives like impossible burger.
I love the question the last paragraph asks, “So, what would the world look like based on your food choices?”
Thoughts on Regenerative Beef Read More »
Beef
Beef producers can realize major price premiums for grass-fed, pasture-raised, or local meat.
5 Tips For Finishing Cattle on Grass Read More »
Beef
o help develop the American West and spur economic growth, Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided 160 acres of federal land to anyone who agreed to farm the land.
The Homestead Act of 1862 Read More »
Homesteading
How does the cost of ownership compare to a gas-powered vehicle?
You can expect to save a significant amount during ownership with 70 percent less maintenance than a gas–powered vehicle, fewer moving parts and no gas to buy. Combine this with the confidence of a 3-year electric powertrain and 5-year battery warranty, and the RANGER XP Kinetic has a compelling cost of ownership.
All Electric Ranger XP Kinetic Side-by-Side Read More »
Technology
Small-scale livestock producers who direct market their animals or their products have more control over variable market prices and can increase their profit potential.
Advantages of Marketing Your Beef Directly Read More »
Selling
As a farmer, you’re a growth expert. You can turn seeds into delicious produce, coax a bountiful harvest from even the poorest of soil, and take livestock from scrawny to hefty.
But for financial success, you also need to become an expert in growing your customer base.
Grassroots Marketing for Farms: 5 Ways To Reach Customers Read More »
Selling
Marketing is an important tool for businesses of all sizes. Small businesses can use marketing techniques and strategies to attract more customers, gain market share, boost brand awareness and create new revenue options. Through these techniques, small businesses can market themselves to existing and potential customers, investors and even other businesses. A marketing campaign’s success is determined by its budget, creativity and strategy for connecting with its target audience.
Here are some small business marketing campaigns to inspire your efforts, along with the do’s and don’ts of creating a successful marketing campaign.
Learn by Example: 7 Successful Small Business Marketing Campaigns Read More »
Selling
Many social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have livestreaming functionality. But livestreaming isn’t just for celebrities and influencers; businesses are increasingly using livestreaming on social media as a marketing tool.
Businesses can use livestreaming as a form of social media marketing to connect with customers, generate more followers, demonstrate products and services, and educate and entertain viewers while moving them closer to a sale. We’ll explore what livestreaming is, how it can benefit a brand and how to get started.
Get Camera Ready: Livestreaming Is the Future of Social Media Read More »
Selling
We gathered the video marketing statistics below by surveying 205 unique respondents in late 2024. Our sample included both marketing professionals and online consumers. We separated these groups with a preliminary question, to make sure that respondents were only asked questions relevant to them.
Video Marketing Statistics 2025 Read More »
Selling
My favorite thing about summer – easy meals on the grill. This steak with herbed butter is delicious! Especially when made with Dexter beef.
https://iowagirleats.com/perfect-grilled-steak-with-herb-butter/
Perfect Grilled Steak Read More »
Beef
The Asian longhorned tick, once confined to distant regions, is crawling into the state, sounding alarms for livestock producers
The Asian Tick is in the US Read More »
Herd Health
I’m not sure if horns, polled or the dwarf incite more spirited conversations in the Dexter world. I am proud to have all of those in our small homestead farm, truly, experiencing all the Dexter has to offer even on our small acreage.
I have become frustrated and even angered by some of the reactions to all of these traits, that are all part of our amazing breed. Diversity was defined in our breed standards and have existed since the “birth” of our breed.
We have so many things to celebrate… like a unique color mutation in our stunning duns. Our duality, some of the richest milk that is easily digested like the goat. And at the same time some of the best beef, that has found its way into restaurants of the famous Chefs like Ramsay. And a unique BD1 gene, that has given birth to many many other breeds!
BD1 is a treasured genetic report on our farm. Our experience with the dwarf has been purely positive, for both dairy and meat. We never breed a carrier to a carrier. So we have never experienced some of the awful things that one person beats to death on one of the FB pages. I do love our non carriers too, as it takes one of each to make the dwarf!
It’s interesting that most of the folks that speak out about the dwarf negatively , have never experienced the dwarf…they rely on the propaganda of one! And standing up to him on his site…well the comments disappear or they go into forever pending. He must control the narrative!
We have not experienced the arthritis in the Dexters which could occur in both the carrier and the non carrier…or could it be the result of tick borne disease, that affects us humans. There are not good recordings of deaths of all Dexters, so the reports that dwarf pass earlier than non carriers, is only a guess, without documented proof. Again something, that fits a narrative.
And let’s talk about the associations and their responsibilities to protect the dwarf and it’s heritage… both have members and board members that share some or all of the detrimental beliefs about the dwarf, hopefully, a balance will be maintained in beliefs or the dwarf is doomed.
I have changed my opinions on some aspects over the last 14 years, but one thing I have never changed are my feelings about are the dwarf. The dwarf or carrier, it’s all just terminology that describes a Dexter that truly has stolen my heart.
How systems-based research can help inform our farming practices, from creating more regenerative systems to helping with water retention in drought affected areas:
Working with Nature Read More »
Farm Management
As livestock farmers a large percent of our work goes into pasture and forage management. Invasive, non-local weeds can be a big pain, and some are even damaging to our animals (poisonous) and local forage. This article addresses simple, natural solutions to weed control on the farm. We have always had the most success by balancing the nutrients in the soil, and adding grazing animals at the right time.
Control Weeds Naturally Read More »
Farm Management
I had never tasted Dexter meat previously, so I was very keen to sink my teeth into a nice steak. The first thing I noticed was the flavor. It reminded me of what beef used to taste like when I started as a butcher, 50 years ago.
https://butchermagazine.com/dexter-beef/https://butchermagazine.com/dexter-beef/
Submitted by Pam B
Dexter Beef – The Taste Test Read More »
Beef
With so many lists and products for small farms out there, it’s hard to know which tools to have on hand. This list covers nine essential tools for small-scale farmers and discusses why each is so important to keep around.
Two long legged Dexters were kept at an Iron Age site to replicate a farm in 300 B.C. The attempt was to recreate what some of our Celtic ancestors would have experienced in their environment as close to what archaeological evidence in 1974 could validate. A round wattle and daub building was constructed with a thatched roof on site, and it withstood two Hampshire hurricanes with no ill effect. A man named Peter Reynolds was testing hypotheses to establish or to refute established theories during his era. He researched to establish accurate theories on the livestock and crops that would have been grown at that time. He wanted to establish facts and create a representation of the time as accurately as he could.
The dark wooled small breed of Soay sheep were kept, as it is commonly believed they are as close as possible to the Iron age sheep genetically, because they remained isolated on St. Kilda for thousands of years. Then there are the two long legged Dexter cattle being kept that are believed to be the same body size and weight as the extinct Bos longifrons. This seems to be what was considered the best match for the time. When researching the subject, I found that McKenny Hughes says “that Bos longifrons was a very small animal; probably not larger than a Kerry cow.” It was likewise believed that the color of the British and Celtic Bos longifrons was black but with a shorter horn shape than is seen in Kerry and Dexter cattle. With those considerations it is understandable that long legged Dexters that have often been called Dexters of the Kerry type would have been used as the best choice for the day. Newspaper article: Country Life 27 June 1974
Interesting, Dexters were used to replicate a farm in 300 B.C. Read More »
Historical
Thankfully, Dexters are not prone to metabolic issues, but you should always be prepared. This study is very interesting. A bottle of wine for your cow!
Have you thought about keeping wine in your medical kit? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Here’s a general explanation of the structure of our stanchion.
Dexter Milking Stanchion Plans Read More »
Milking & Dairy
This article is jammed packed with recipes…some I have yet to try and some great activities for children. If you have a favorite recipe, please comment with your recipe and help grow our recipe box and more.
DID YOU KNOW June is National Dairy Month? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Milk Cow Machine Review!! Part 1 Is It Worth It?
The truth about Amazon milking pumps – Too Complicated Read More »
Milking & Dairy
A portrait model of a shorthorn Dexter bull in obsidian set with cabochon ruby eyes. Among the breeds of cattle kept by King Edward VII at Sandringham were pedigree shorthorns, red polls, Jerseys and Irish Dexters.
This Magnificent Dexter Obsidian Carving Read More »
Historical
Make sure you’re collecting it!
Submitted by Katie Sears
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/27/health/colostrum-supplements-pros-cons-wellness/index.html
Liquid Gold Trend! Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Check out number 12! Dexters can make that happen….
Tips For Starting A Homestead Read More »
Homesteading
Bees can bring amazing benefits to your pastures, gardens and tummy!
Have You Considered Bee Keeping? Read More »
Homesteading
Queen Victoria is listed as owner of the Dexter bulls.
“Royal Farmers”by Ralph Whitlock Read More »
Historical
It’s that time of year. The flies have arrived in most US states by now. It takes a multi system approach to keep the fly population down and protect your cattle.
Whether it be a topical pour on, spray on, a feed through mineral, garlic, solar fly traps, fly predators, etc, it takes several different products to reduce your fly load.
How to keep your homestead in tiptop condition as you run through these summer chores.
13 Essential Summer Chores Read More »
Farm Management
Valerie Tate shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass
Filling the summer forage gap Read More »
Farm Management
