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Welcome to Spring:

By Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm

Spring is a beautiful time of the year!!  All the new babies, flowers popping their heads up showing off their colors, everyone itching to get their hands in the dirt!! But that also brings some problems if you have cows.  Here are a few things that I have found that make spring not so great.

First thing, with the crazy swings in the weather temps, you need to watch your cows for pneumonia.  This is a hard thing to notice but if  you keep watch you can start learning the signs.  One of the signs is lower head, their sides are “thumping” (meaning catching their breath), not alot of energy.  I had a steer go down and die the next day.  He had eaten the night before and looked fine.  But he was gone the next morning.  I asked the vet if I was doing something wrong.  She told me that it really doesn’t matter, it’s the big swings in the weather.  They have shelter, water and food. 

Keeping watch is one thing, but there is also a vaccine that you can give them once or twice a year to help with that.  It is a BRD vaccine.  Check with your vet to see if that is something that you want to give your cattle.  

We have talked about the mud before, but we will mention it again.  Make sure that your cattle don’t have to stand in the mud all the time.  That is something that can keep them from staying warm in the spring weather.  Make sure that they have a dry place to lay down.  

I’m not an expert, but I have learned some things along the way.  Some of those things I have learned the hard way….lol  These are just some things that I have learned on this journey of raising cattle. 

Welcome to Spring: Read More »

Beef

Small-scale beef production

Below is a great article for those getting in to beef production on a small scale. Thinking through resources, knowledge, budget, production, marketing, as well as talent and interest level. There is a great quote from the last point: “You are much more likely to be successful if you are interested in and passionate about what you are doing.”

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/top-ten-considerations-small-scale-beef-production

Small-scale beef production Read More »

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Beef Trends in 2025

With the US National beef inventory down, and demand for beef remaining steady/increasing slightly, I think we can expect to see continued increase in beef prices through 2025. That is good news for those of us raising beef and selling direct to consumers.

In our own personal Dexter beef sales we have seen a shift from smaller purchases in years 2020-2023, to half and whole beef purchases over the past year and a half.

It is certainly more economical for beef buyers to purchase in bulk and save money. It can be better for farmers/ranchers too, cutting down on time required to inventory and manage smaller orders.

However you sell your beef, here are trends to look for:

https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/foodservice/menu-concepts-diner-insights/market-trends-in-beef-preparing-for-2025#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20reduced%20beef%20production,Various%20report%20dates.

Beef Trends in 2025 Read More »

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Ask the butcher!

The Wranglers at Irish Dexter Cattlemen are pleased to announce that we have a butcher on our team now! The folks at PipeDreams Butchery, located near Memphis TN, will be writing articles, doing videos and more. They are familiar with Dexters, as they used own them, milk them and breed them.

They are active on our Facebook group, so if you have a question about processing and post it…don’t be surprised if they answer you. If you have things that you would covered from a butchers perspective, please let us know and we will try to get it covered for you. All contributions, will first appear in the free monthly newsletter and then be archived in the membership Gazzette.

We personally use them for all our processing and are very happy with our cuts, the feedback on our animals and extra services including sausages, ancestral beef, smoking and curing. Very excited to have them participating in our beef community!

Ask the butcher! Read More »

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Mobile Butchering

Mobile butchering, also called on-farm butchering definitely has its share of challenges. But, there are a few who are making it work, and excelling in this field! Farmers and producers are looking for options that minimize stress to the animal and cut out long transportation times to a butcher shop. Have you used a mobile butcher unit? Would you be willing to pay for a more costly service if it brought the benefits of an on-farm butchering?

https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/mobile-slaughter-units-are-rarely-more-than-a-pipe-dream/652487.html

Mobile Butchering Read More »

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Favorite Steak Cuts

Ever wonder if you’re missing out on some great cuts because they’re not as common, or you don’t know how to prepare and cook them? Check out this video and you might learn about a steak cut you haven’t heard of, or gain a new tip on cooking and prepping a tried and true favorite.

Favorite Steak Cuts Read More »

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Corned Beef Recipe

St. Patricks Day is coming up, and what better way to celebrate the day than with some home cooked, Dexter corned beef! The link below is to a recipe I’ve been using for several years with great success. Corning is a traditional way of curing beef meat. It does take time, so you want to give yourself 5-7 days. This recipe does not use curing (also called pink) salt so it is nitrate free. You can add beets if you’d like the traditional color, or leave them out for just as tasty (though less colorful) corned beef.

https://www.growforagecookferment.com/how-to-make-corned-beef/

Corned Beef Recipe Read More »

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Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #4

By Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm

Photo courtesy of Royal Fare Farm

Part #4 of this series is MUD, ugh!!!  I’m thinking that most of us have dealt with mud at one point or another.  Some of us deal with mud more than others.  Right now we are dealing with a lot of mud around my place. You have to really watch foot rot and thrush when you are dealing with mud.  Also you have to make sure they aren’t standing in mud because that makes it hard for them to stay warm.  Even if it is only their legs that are caked in mud.  If you don’t have much room for them to move around, you might want to add gravel and/or wood chips to help with the mud.  Another way to help them stay off mud is to do rotational grazing in the winter.  This lessens the chances that your pastures will turn to mud.  The cows will be moving all the time and won’t be staying in one area.  I hope these little articles are helping you all!!  Happy Winter!!

Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #4 Read More »

Beef

Getting Dexters is like eating chips, you can’t just have one!!! Written By Shelley Hatfield Whippoorwill Pines Farm

I kinda want to go back to the beginning.  We are getting several new Dexter owners and several people asking questions.  So I will post some articles on getting started.   These articles aren’t necessarily directed to Dexter cattle in particular, but the basics are the same.  
 First of all, you do need to decide what you are wanting to do with your Dexters.  Since they are a dual purpose breed,  you need to decide the most important thing you are wanting out of these cattle.  I’m not saying this has to be forever, but you do need to decide what your main goal is for raising these cattle.  Then you can go from there later on.  Secondly, you need to decide what your property will hold.  This is VERY important.  In this you need to decide which direction your farm is going,  grass fed, mostly grass fed with some grain, or grain fed.  It may seem overwhelming at first, but just take one thing at a time.  You can change your mind as you go and see what works for your farm and what doesn’t.  Don’t get overwhelmed!! 
 Next a good water source will be needed.  Either by running lines, running hoses, putting in automatic waterers.  Cows need a good grass source and good clean water.  Some people let their cows use their ponds.  That is fine as long as the pond doesn’t have a run off.  Cows can also damage a pond by pushing in the dirt as they stand in it and filling it back up.  Unless you have a deep pond.  
 Another thing that I have found to be very important is to have ample equipment for holding them.  You need a good chute.  It doesn’t always have to be a fancy set up.  If you can afford one that is great, but you need a good head chute. You can make an alley way to it with panels or fencing.  A good head chute is vital to being able to inspect or service your cattle.  
 A good mentor is very very helpful!!!  Find someone who has raised cattle, particularly Dexters and learn everything you can from them.  Our website will be very helpful in that area.  You can find other Dexter owners.  We also have lots of information that is helpful, in several different areas.  

Getting Dexters is like eating chips, you can’t just have one!!! Written By Shelley Hatfield Whippoorwill Pines Farm Read More »

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Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2 – By Shelley HatField Of Whippoorwill Pines Farm

Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2
 
I’m going to write about the second part of this series of keeping cows in the winter.  The first one was about making sure they have adequate water.  I’m going to talk about shelter in the winter.  This will once again depend on where you are in this great United States.  We have such diverse weather conditions.

I think that this could end up being a great debate, but I’m not wanting that.  I know some people think that the cows need a 5 Star barn and others think a few trees are plenty.  I’m just going to do a basic all around article on what the cows should have.  Then you can go from there and do what you feel is necessary. 

Starting with the milder states, you still should have at least a covering for them to get out of the sun in the summer and wind in the winter.  If you live in the colder states you will at least need a wind block.  It is also good for you to have at least a 3 sided building.  It doesn’t have to be fancy.  It just needs to be something that they can get in out of the wind and rain/snow.  Now if you have had cows very long you will know that they will just stand outside in the weather.  They have grown coats for the weather that you have in your area.  
 
You will notice cows standing out in the winter weather and have their backs covered in snow.  That is a good sign.  That means that they are well insulated!!  Dexters in particular were created to weather more difficult situations. 

Each person knows what they want for their herd.  This is just some basic advice on what to have.  Happy Winter!!!

Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2 – By Shelley HatField Of Whippoorwill Pines Farm Read More »

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Things necessary to get your cows through the winter – Part 1

Written by Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm

I’m going to talk about 6 things needed to help your cows get through the winter.  I’m sure that there are more than 6 things but these are what I think are most important.  The first thing that you need is fresh water!!  Where you are in the United States will determine how hard this will be over the winter.  Some places are warm enough that they just have to make sure it stays full.  But in some places it almost freezes before you get back to the house.  But fresh water is so important in the health of your cows.  It has been said that cows need 1 to 2 gallons of water per 100pd of body weight.  I know some think that maybe they can lick the snow or lick the ice.  But licking the ice would take so much time to get what they need.  It would also take up body energy that they need to keep warm. Cows that don’t have enough water supply can get dehydrated and are susceptible to colic and other issues.  It is just best to keep fresh water out to them daily.  

Not having water can hinder so many areas in a cow.  Whether in summer or winter, water is so important to the health of your cow.  People usually think about water problems for the summer time, but making sure they have water is also very important for winter.  It affects their digestive system.  It keeps their body temp regulated.  It affects milk production.  Water or lack of it can affect the overall health of your herd.  

There are a couple of different tank heaters that you can use.  One is a floating one that has a cage around it.  I used those for several years, but ran into problems with them.  My cows would get bored and chew on the cord as it hung over the tank.  I used a pvc pipe to try to help.  It worked as long as they left it alone.  There is also a tank heater that goes in the drain hole at the bottom.  This is the one that I’m using now.  I can run the cord out the bottom and around so they can’t reach it.  I will warn you that tank heaters can run up your electricity.  But unless you have waterers run to your pastures, it is tank heaters or break the ice!!  I’ve tried all the tricks that people have come up with and I haven’t found any that work for me.  

Whatever method you decide, tank heaters or breaking ice all day, lets just make sure that we are keeping fresh water to our herds this winter!!

Things necessary to get your cows through the winter – Part 1 Read More »

Beef Farm Management Herd Health

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


 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 »

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